Getting Started (first 50 pages)

The beginning of the book takes place from 1915-1920 in Burgdorf, Germany. We are introduced to Leo and Gertrud Montag. Leo has just arrived home early from the first World War and is reunited with his wife Gertrud. Nine months later they have a baby girl named Trudi (short for Gertrud). Trudi is not a normal child. She was born a Zwerg, or dwarf. For this, her mother refuses to look, or even touch, her own daughter. As time progresses, Gertrud slowly becomes crazy and hides herself in a "nest" under the house. The only time she could be coaxed out was when Leo made her hold Trudi. From that day, Trudi was the only person that could lure her out. Because Gertrud kept running away, they had to lock her up in a room upstairs. One of the doctors suggested that they take her to an asylum. Leo refused, but later had to resort back to this idea. Several years pass while Gertrude goes from the asylum back to her home. Before she goes back to the asylum, for the last time, she tells Trudi that when she comes back things will be much better between them. She never got the chance. Gertrud dies there and Trudi won't accept that fact. To occupy her time, Trudi continues to pray for her growth and hangs from the door frame. At night, she wraps her head to keep it from growing. She longs to be a normal person with long limbs that grow tall instead of wide.

50 pages down. 475 to go.