Part I, Chapter 40, Day after Day, Month after Month Summary and Analysis

In Part I, Chapter 40, 1938 does not prove to be better than 1937. Ginzburg and Julia fall into a structured pattern of existence. They read, take notes in notebooks purchased from the prison store, and Ginzburg writes a novel about her childhood. They continue hiding items like fish bones and medicine. And they continue to memorize poetry.

As the year grinds on, Ginzburg and Julia fall into a structured pattern of living in prison, doing everything from reading to writing to memorizing poetry. They do their best to carry on as normal a life as possible, despite being in prison. The reading that they do gives them a glimpse of beauty, and gives them a way to mentally and emotionally escape from the prison.