Reading notes on Steps (1968)

Steps (1968) by Jerzy Kosinski

After reading The Painted Bird by the same author, this novel reads like recounting by the same boy that has grown up. And similar to the earlier work, some stories in this novel sound autobiographical: working as a ski instructor, teaching in a communist society, and immigrating to the US. Brutal acts are observed and carried out by the main character seemingly without conscience, which is different from the earlier work where the boy struggles with morality. The immigrant stories are fantastical and movie-like and made me wonder if becoming part of the underworld was that commonplace in the 1960's. As an immigrant myself, I enjoyed the poetic description of how one wishes to be affixed to that seat in the airplane, in that sky, to be frozen forever in that state between the past and the future. It is difficult to face the future as an immigrant, especially if so much was sacrificed to create it. It should feel like a new beginning but previous chapters have already defined the expectations of the future you. In spite of this, the sparkling promise of a brighter future beckons and you take the next steps.

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