We read several pages in Book II Chapter 9 in which the protagonist begins reading the book O'Brien smuggled to him. We agreed that the major theme in chapter titled, "War is Peace" addresses totalitarianism and communism and gives a description of the permanent state of war. Ben astutely noted that the book outlines that all of the totalitarian control, surveillance, and reality control are efforts by the high class to maintain its grip on power, but in fact, it perpetuates the war without ever trying to win it. He further summarized that the government maintains enemies in order to justify holding onto power and repressing its citizens and does everything in its power to make sure that the citizens have no means of understanding what it is doing to them. We left off just as Julia arrives at the room in Mr. Charrington's store and although she shows no interest in reading the book, she encourages Winston to read it to her. I reminded Ben that I emailed a homework assignment to be completed b Tuesday, 4/22. He confirmed that he has the book in his bookbag and his mom thanked me for sending it, via email.