How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Don't I always say that? Yes? And this book is full of them. Full of them both. Dead men and stories, dead men and stories. You just have to know how to listen." (33.42)
It's significant that the book is the key to Sig solving the mystery about his dad. When he remembers what his dad says about the Bible, he thinks he should search inside it—and when he does, he's golden.
Quote #8
The second thing he thought of was something the young soldier had said to him. He'd said that a story like theirs was too good to be forgotten, and that what Sig ought to do was to write it down. Sig had replied that he couldn't do it. Or rather, not that he couldn't, but that it wouldn't feel right, writing about himself. (39.40)
Sig feels weirded out by the idea of sharing his story, because he's not sure if he can write it. Why does writing about himself feel wrong? Over to you, Shmoopsters.
Quote #9
So the young soldier, who was himself hoping to be a writer, explained that Sig could write the story as if he was writing it about someone else, about some other family. (39.41)
When Sig hears he should write the story as if it were about someone else, it suddenly becomes much easier. Maybe this is because he's writing about a piece of fiction almost, instead of his life story.