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What are readers saying about The Book Thief?
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Jen posted a review at 2010-04-12 06:59:37.
(Language: English)
 
Review: Death narrates the story of a lost young girl sent to live with strangers during World War 2. Haunted by the death of her brother, Liesel discovers a dropped book by his graveside and begins a very personal journey of learning to read and write, one which brings great tragedy and great joy together. As she struggles to master her first stolen book, Liesel establishes new bonds with her foster parents, the boy next door, and a few odd companions along the way, each of which weaves a thread in her tapestry, one that is destined to be blown apart in a few short years. Tragedy and hope bleed together, forming the ink which stains the walls of Liesel's home, the tips of her fingers, and the marks on her heart.I was a little afraid to read this book, to be honest...so many people have raved so about it that I worried it would fall flat when I finally read it myself. Fortunately, it was a really intriguing premise, and I really liked the viewpoint from which the story was told...it was unique and clever, laced with a sad humor that was very engaging. While my praise isn't quite as high as some, I am still very glad to have read this and I feel that it's going to be one of those books that linger with me for years to come. 
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-06-11 05:12:49.
(Language: English)
Loved, loved, loved this book!!! This is the poignant tale of four years in the life of Liesel, a 10-year-old when she arrives to live with a foster family in Germany during WWII. Liesel's story is told from the viewpoint of Death who complains of overwork during this time period. Liesel is fortunate to experience love intensely in many different forms--from a young boy her own age, her foster father and mother, and from a young Jewish man hidden in her family's basement. Liesel also discovers the power of words both to cause harm, as in third Reich propaganda, and to heal, as when she reads to heal the pain of her brother dying in her arms. This a very appealing and human story. Well written and humorous, this author manages to portray the horror and tragedy of war and Holocaust and at the same time show the beauty of humanity. I would recommend this book to everybody.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-03-18 10:48:55.
(Language: English)
A good little read. It did tug at my heart strings once in while. -from page 134 ""Jesus, Mary . . ." She said it out loud, the words distributed into a room that was full of cold air and books. Books everywhere! Each wall was armed with overcrowded yet immaculate shelving. It was barely possible to see the paintwork. There wer all different styles of lettering on the spines of the black, the red, the gray, the every-colored books. It was one of the most beautiful things Lisel Meminger had ever seen. With wonder, she smiled. That such a room existed! Even when she tried to wipe the smile away with her forearm, she realized instantly that it was a pointless exercise. She could feel the eyes of the woman traveling her body, and when he looked at her, they had rested on her face. There was more silenc than she ever thought possible. It extended like an elastic, dying to break. The girl broke it. "Can I?" The two words stood among acres and acres of vacant, wooden-floored land. The books were miles away. The woman nodded. Yes, you can "
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-10-17 04:52:37.
(Language: English)
I’m not sure why this novel is described as a “young-adult classic” because it is a book for all ages and all times. The story, which takes place in Nazi Germany – about a young German girl, Liesel Meminger (not Jewish), who arrives in a small town to live with foster parents, to find later on that they are hiding a Jew in their basement – continued to surprise me at each turn. Each initial assumption that I made about the main characters turned out to be wrong, although the story was altogether believable. It’s told from the unique perspective of certain Germans who, although not Jewish, were sympathetic to the Jews. The fact that they had to play the Nazi Party game was an unfortunate reality for some of these people. I will admit that before reading this book I always felt that if you were true to your heart you would denounce the atrocities of Nazism when it was happening and be willing to suffer the consequences. This novel made me understand the complexities of what was going on – these people had families upon whose actions their lives depended. And although it certainly did not excuse the actions of some who chose to “look the other way” during the Holocaust, the novel helped to show what an emotional, physical and ultimately spiritual morass these poor citizens found themselves in when dealing with this type of evil.What I loved about this book was how it showed all of the lovely and flawed ways in which people love each other. Although the book had a sad ending, which I typically cannot abide, it was appropriate for the story and nothing else would have worked. The novel was also a love story about books and reading… hence the title. It reminded me not only what a pleasure it is, but also a privilege, to be able to read good books with abandon. This book goes on my favorite list.
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Piotr posted a review at 2009-04-24 11:40:32.
(Language: English)
A most different kind of a book. Death has never been more intriguing. The narration has that blunt,overt and morose shade of personality as one would imagine death really should, however the book transcends the obvious sarcasm. We're led into dark corners of a heart of a young Liesel Meminger and even darker soul of Nazi Germany. The writing is utterly engrossing. I felt like "The Book Thief" was one spectacular explosion of words seemingly disconnected and yet beautifully interwoven to create this poignant, powerful and completely real masterpiece. It is a cavalcade of words and these words have weight. Words always do. One can kill with words while the other can grow a tree and hide a Jew in the basement so that we can remain alive, human or just plain sane. Just taste it... Page 349 "Summer came. For the book thief, everything was going nicely. For me, the sky was the color of Jews. When their bodies had finished scouring for gaps in the door, their souls rose up. When their fingernails had scratched at the wood and in some cases were nailed into it by the sheer force of desperation, their spirits came toward me, into my arms, and we climbed out of those shower facilities, onto the roof and up, into eternity’s certain breadth. They just kept feeding me. Minute after minute. Shower after shower. I’ll never forget the first day in Auschwitz" The book made me appreciate food on my table, health and strength and freedoms I so much take for granted. It made me realize, that it is not the number of books I read or own, but how much I love and cherish each word, each paragraph and each unique story. It has made me fall in love with life and its precious, banal "everydayness". The colors of the sky The wind piercing my body The run-over soccer ball A sturdy leaf A late night coffee shared with a special friend A brother that is still alive and My parents My sons breath when he gently tilts his head on my chest My daughters embrace, her brisk kiss and a math problem I have no idea how to resolve My wife's smile as she faces me reading yet again on our sofa or her complete disregard for the billion selfish things I do, or think as her giant heart atones for all the sins of my puny egoistic soul. And the fact that I can read and revel in stories as beautiful as "The Book Thief". Thank you Markus Zusak for not only a history lesson but a lesson in sanctity of life in its many colorful shades.
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-01-27 04:35:12.
(Language: English)
This book was one of my favorite reads ever. The author wrote the words so beautifully that you could not resist your emotion. The narrator really set the tone and engaged the reader. The book takes place in Germany during world war II. The main character Leisel is a young girl who is forced to go to a foster home. There, her foster dad taught her how to read a book that she had stolen before she got there. Because she loved to read, she stole more books. Leisel helped many of the characters in the book cope with the horrific times of the holocaust because of her passion to read. All the characters in this book were portrayed so well. I loved them all. I particularly loved the foster dad who was so kind to Leisel and risked his life to save the jews. There were a lot of touching moments and I couldn't help but get emotional. We are so lucky to have the freedom we have now. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-10-28 07:54:41.
(Language: English)
Death narrates the story of Liesel Meminger, AKA the book thief. Death first encounters Liesel when her younger brother dies while they are on the way to live with foster parents. Liesel steals her first book, The Gravedigger's Handbook, at her brother's funeral (even though she can't read). Her foster father, Hans, uses the book to teach Liesel to read. The Book Thief is set during the Holocaust, so Death is definitely feeling overworked. Liesel steals more books and forms close relationships with the people around her, especially Hans, her foster father, Max, a Jew hiding in her basement, and Rudy, a blond boy who admires Jesse Owens. Not every German in the book is a Nazi and Zusak brings out the beauty and the horror of humanity in its many forms. Death jumps around and interrupts himself, which makes the beginning of the book a bit confusing. However, this book is absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking and a must-read for older teens and adults. The descriptive language is gorgeous and original. Take, for example, this description of a bonfire of banned books: "The orange flames waved at the crowd as paper and print dissolved inside them. Burning words were torn from their sentences." Just reread this for book club and liked it even better the second time.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-20 03:20:51.
(Language: English)
I found this book in the young-adult section of the bookstore, but it should actually sit somewhere between grown-up and young-adult fiction. Interestingly, the narrator of the story is Death, and it is a bit of a dark tale in many respects, and yet it is a poignant and beautiful story about Leisel Meminger; a young girl who was sent to live with foster parents in Germany during World War II after her brother dies and her mother disappears. She is the book thief. There are so many wonderful characters, such as Hans Hubermann (her foster-father) and Rudy (her best friend) and her foster-mother who despite her grouchy demeanor turns out to be a very loving wife and mother… There's Max, the Jew, who they harbored in the basement for some time, and let us not forget about the Mayor's wife... So many endearing folks helped develop Leisel's character as well as her reading/writing abilities. This is a wonderful story about love and compassion. It is also a reminder to cherish your time before Death comes! The rest, dear potential readers, is for you to explore.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-07-24 07:10:17.
(Language: English)
Narrated by Death, it follows the story of nine-year-old Liesel, a german girl, during the dark days of the third reich. We meet her as she is journeying to her new foster home on Himmel Street. Her Communist parents have been transported to a concentration camp, and during the funeral for her brother, she manages to steal a macabre book: it is, in fact, a gravediggers’ instruction manual. She treasures this book and it is the first of many books she will steal and that will become important to her growing up and salvation. Despite its grim narrator, The Book Thief is, in fact, a beautifully told story both slow and exquisitely detailed in it's narration. You can't help but connect with all the characters and glide through the chapters with ease. Unlike most books set in this era of world history it isn't entirely focused on war but more the people involved and affected by it. It is kind of like 'The boy in the striped pajama's' in that you are both hearing it from Death (a person who is educated enough to know what is happening) and seeing it through Liesel's own interpretation (which is unprejudiced and naive). A lovely book, full of quirky anecdotes by Death - be prepared to see a very thick book!
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-06-17 09:04:17.
(Language: English)
Marvelous! One of the best books I've read in ages. The story is set in a small town just outside Munich during WWII where Liesel Meminger lives with her foster parents during Germany’s darkest years. She survives by her wits, a bit of luck, and by stealing books. The latter she eventually comes to share with others crowded in a bomb shelter and with the Jewish man who hides in her basement before being marched off to Dachau. The theme of the power of words, language, and books is woven throughout the story. One of the most powerful images of the novel occurs when Max, the hidden Jew, paints over the pages of a copy of Mein Kampf and writes his own story on the recycled paper. Narrated by Death (who is as poetic, phlegmatic, fatalistic, and compassionate as one might imagine), this novel is populated by a marvelous cast of ordinary people, most notably Liesel’s foster mother who wields the wooden spoon and spews obscenities with rare enthusiasm. Any book set during the Holocaust is, on some level, miserable to read – and The Book Thief is no exception. Yes, there are losses, but there is also a great deal of kindness, love, compassion, and hope. A brilliant book for all ages (originally published in Australia as adult fiction, it has been released in North America as a Young Adult novel), this one is a keeper.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-05-08 09:30:37.
(Language: English)
I'm on page 534 right now....a few more away from the end.I had the urge to write a few words about the book before I even finished it because the sort of sadness the scene right now evokes ought to be let out a little. Himmel street has been bombed and Liesel's life has been derailed all over again... We've all seen movies and heard about Nazi Germany but this book brings in a whole new dimension and a perspective as heart breaking and sad as any other... It's a wonderful read but damaging to the psyche. I don't know if I would recommend this to people because it claws at your heart with such a maniacal vengeance that the reader would be left reeling in the stupor created by the sickly realization that humans have been the most despicable beings to have ever existed. While the story is straightforward, it hints at our weaknesses, our ability to perpetuate misery, our longing for innocence, fear, hatred, selfishness, the agonizing dilemma between the desire to live happily and the inability to be true to ourselves, and the greatest and most hated of all... "love". Go ahead and read it if you'd like...but don't come to me saying that I didn't warn you
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-04-15 01:15:43.
(Language: English)
I was disappointed by this, especially having seen so many glowing reviews for it. Although Markus Zusak clearly had a great many good ideas he failed to draw me in to the world he was describing. I found the mechanics of the book heavy-handed and overwhelming. The Part titles and lists of featured contents for each Part, the chapter headings, subheadings, typographical devices, dictionary entries, translations, illustrations etc. etc. all added little and were ultimately a barrier rather than a conduit to beleiving in the world of the characters of the book.Equally I found Zusak's prose somewhat jarring, somewhat mannered, he seems to delight in unlikely juxtaposition in his language. At one point he talks of Jewish businesses being "surgically smashed" at another someone takes "handfuls of frosty water" and the book abounds with similar phrases which to my mind didn't work and instead of carrying me along and drawing me into an image, cast me out and left me thinking "that doesn't sound quite right".For something of Germany during that period far better to read Gunther Grass. Or for a truly moving account of how war destroys lives read Bao Ninh's "The Sorrow of War" I did not realise that this book was written and originally published for younger readers.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-10-15 04:57:24.
(Language: English)
The Book Thief has all the charm and bug-eyed innocence of a young adult novel, with the severity and insight of a contemporary classic. I must admit that while being very moving, clever and original, The Book Thief did not 'change my life', as I heard it did for some recommenders. It is certainly powerful and significant, especially as it emphasises the importance and value of words, books, and reading. If it encourages anyone to pick up books more often and give them a go, then I condone it wholeheartedly. Perhaps because of those YA qualities, it didn't appeal to my acute sense of complexity. I don't know. The title-character's real name is Liesel Memminger. She is a young girl living in Molching, a town close to Munich, in wartime Germany. The story's narrator encounters the book thief for the first time because of the death of her brother, after which she moves to Molching to live with foster parents and her real mother is not heard from again. Liesel quickly becomes our heroine, moving through the adult world and learning to deal with it's ups and downs, her severe (but caring) foster mother, her illiteracy, the kids on her street, friends and enemies and nightmares. She is likeable and emphatic. In fact, somehow all the characters are likeable, even the ones you hate. Getting to know the neighbourhood was one of the book's delights - Zusak obviously has a penchant for characters. The detached, mostly emotionless narration of the story by Death (himself!) actually makes the whole novel what it is; an original and artful approach to the telling of a(nother) personal holocaust story. Death inserts snippets of his own story (context-wise) into his telling of Liesel's, giving her personal experiences of the war, Hitler and Nazism a wider sense of horror. I found the halting and choppy pace of plot slightly annoying, though - but it merged with the rest of the novel to give the whole it's fresh feeling. It doesn't read like any other book I've read (although I understand from other people's comments that Death's little asides are similar to those in Lemony Snicket books) and for that I was grateful to Zusak. It seems odd that Death narrates a book I have half-classed as YA, however Zusak has made him a somewhat sympathetic character. I like the idea of Death having opinions about his 'job', and about humans - I have always liked the 'Death as a character rather than a concept' premise... it was one of the things that drew me into Discworld. I suppose in that sense, Zusak has managed to stir in a spoonful of the fantastic to this bizarre contradictory concoction of a novel. The horrors of the Holocaust, the coming-of-age of a brave little book thief, the spiritual implications of Death and the 'souls' he refers to constantly, the power of promises, the tragedy of love, the truth in humanity. Somehow, with all these seemingly jarring ingredients, The Book Thief melds together to become an intense, melancholy whole with a lingering, bittersweet catharsis.
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Jennifer posted a review at 2009-11-08 12:29:02.
(Language: English)
Reviewed by Cana Rensberger for TeensReadToo.com THE BOOK THIEF is on of the most memorable books I've read in a long time. It takes place during World War II in Molching, Germany. It's the writing, the unusual narrator (death), and the characters sketched in vivid colors that make this novel so difficult to put down. Meet Leisel, the book thief, whose first encounter with death occurs on a train with her mama and brother - on their way to meet her foster parents. Meet Rosa Hubermann, Leisel's new mama, whose rough, crude exterior can't hide the heart inside. Meet Hans Hubermann, Leisel's firm foundation. The man who stays up with her after her nightmares, who teaches her to read her first stolen book, who finds empathy in a slice of stale bread. Meet Max, a Jew, the shadow in the basement, a skeleton later seen marching, or more aptly, stumbling, down the road. Meet Rudy, the lemon-haired Jesse Owens, Leisel's partner in crime and best friend, the one who yearns for Leisel's kiss. Meet the Führer, the invisible, potent master of words. Meet death, in a metal cockpit, on a snow-covered field mottled in red, hanging from a rafter at the end of a rope, sitting at a simple kitchen table, under a pile of rubble that used to be a home. Markus Zusak fills the reader with vivid images of humans at war, humans led to the unthinkable by a force they cannot control. Some go willingly, others have no choice. Those left behind are merely attempting to survive each day as life crumbles around them. Leisel survives by stealing books. As I read the final chapters of THE BOOK THIEF, I literally had to close the book to get my emotions under control before reading on to meet death. It was inevitable -- he would meet me at the end of the book. As I emerged from the story at the turning of the back cover, my reality felt so jarringly wrong. It was as though I went from a black and white silent movie to a new world: bright, free, and colorful. You cannot read this novel without feeling a resounding resolve that this should never, ever, happen again. The writing is incredible. Mr. Zusak gave death such an unusual perspective. His descriptive phrases are nothing short of brilliant. THE BOOK THIEF is a powerful read that should not be missed by anyone, teen or adult!
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Carolyn Joy posted a review at 2010-07-24 11:27:16.
(Language: English)
This was highly recommended to me by a friend who loves books and reading like I do. She shared how good this book is and how it touched her and sent tears to her eyes, and that is something. My friend is not exactly the emotional type and to hear her say that this book touched her had me intrigued. So I was looking for my next public read and I started this one. At first I didn't understand who the narrator was until I realized that it's Death itself. I used "it" because Death could be male or female. It's refreshing to read something in a different format. Marcus Zusak's writing lured me with its simplicity and how he managed to make a dreary and desperate era into an exciting and adventurous one, through the eyes of Liesel Meminger. I imagine everything in black and white since the story was set in the Third Reich. The author takes us to the other side of Schindler's List. We have a book thief, an accordion player and painter, a Jewish fistfighter hiding in the basement, and their stories are described with prolific details, great imagery, and captivating conversations. It's what made me read the book until the last page. One of the great things about the novel is how it's divided into different parts, it ensured the smoothness of the story's flow, and unlike other novels, this one has a lot of characters too, but they're introduced one by one so we'll remember who he or she is. This book is also German language and curses 101 for the interested reader. Liesel Meminger is the book thief who found solace in stealing books. Later on she met the black-painted-Jesse-Owens wannabe Rudy Steiner, who became her bestfriend and partner in crime. I liked their story, it hinted romance and was unconventional. The characters had a way with expressing their affection through insults especially Rosa Hubermann, Liesel's foster mother. I was touched by Liesel and Hans's (Papa) post-nightmare readings. Hans was an exceptional foster father, he really had the patience with Liesel, when he read to her, comforted her, and played the accordion for her. Max Vandenburg was a character I didn't expect, he is the victim in Hitler's scheme and it was heart-wrenching how the author described his feelings, his anxieties as a Jew, and how he and Liesel developed a bond with each other. I was moved to tears when he gave Liesel the book he made. The titles of the books were interesting. The author turned the tables when the book thief started to give something back, reading at the time of huddling in the shelter to calm people down when there were bombings. We could see early on that Liesel is starved for literacy and knowledge, and she is the vivid color against the black and white of surroundings. I see the world here in black and white, and Liesel diffuses the colors with her optimism. She is a prism in a black background. The irony was in the setting. It's a given that it was a depressing time, wars, air raids, meaningless killings permeate the air, but the story of Liesel was fun and exciting. Her adventures and mishaps with Rudy were reminiscent of a good childhood and it's cute how Rudy always asks for a kiss, he got it all right, but not at the time he wanted it. Now the thing about Death is funny. It's not exactly the grim reaper, it describes itself as someone like us, who only does a job, and wants to have a vacation. It's great how Death "softens the blow" by spoiling some inevitable things. If I could rate this a 10 I would, it has all the elements of a timeless novel: humor, drama, action, love in all aspects, a solid plot, a storyline worthy of acclaim, meaningful conversations, and colorful characters that can melt the iciest heart.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-03-07 09:21:33.
(Language: English)
Without an exageration I can say that it was one of the best books I ever read... I finished the reading (i.e. listening) in cold Paris, March 2009 walking on the dark streets of this city. And the first thing I did after I finished was to go back to the beginning and to start it again.... "First the colors. Then the humans" - this is how it starts, the story told from the perspective of ... death personified. The narration brings some far but strong recollections of that used by Norman Mailer in his "The Castle in the Forest", but don't take it as criticism - in fact it is a praise.... What makes Zusak's book such increadible experience? First and foremost - his vacabulary, his parlance, his prose poetry. Bacause of these, you loose the sense of reading the novel, and you feel like you are reading the poetry... "I can promise you that the world is a factory. The sun stirs it, the humans rule it. And I remain. I carry them away. " "The girl loved that-- the shivering snow" One of my friends told me, when recommended the book couple of weeks ago: "I did not know how one could live through the words as it is in the book" ... But there is also something else. The book has deep meaning and strong message. It is about the most dark period of human history - Nazi Germany. It's about Jewish persecution and Holocaust. But it is also about forgivness, about love, about the simple fact that not all Germans were Nazi and not all Nazis were killers. It's about life in hard times, and about difficult greatness.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-25 11:03:48.
(Language: English)
Book title: The Book Thief Publisher: Black Swan Number of page: 554 Summary: The narrator of the book is Death, who encountered the protagonist of the book, Liesel Meminger, a German girl, thice. The book is entitled The Book Thief because the whole story is about Liesel’s thievery of books during the Nazi influence in Germany. The story begins when Liesel and her brother is sent to a foster family, before which her brother dies because of the development of cough. The first book she steals is the Gravedigger’s Handbook, despite her inability to read. This is the first time when Death encounters her. Liesel later arrives the Hubermanns’ in Himmel Street. Her foster father, Hans, is a painter and accordionist. When Liesel just arrives the new family, Hans reads the gravedigger’s handbook for Liesel every night before bed. She then meets her best friend, Rudy Steiner, who was a fan of the American athlete Jesse Owens but dies later. Max, a Jewish refugee, is helped by Hans and can stay in the Hubermanns’ during the period of Jewish persecution. Max later gives Liesel two books of his own and becomes the best friend of Liesel’s, despite the racial difference between the two of them. World War II was creeping closer to Himmel Street, bringing death to the street. Liesel witnesses the death of a pilot and that was the second encounter of Death to her. Liesel reads to her neighbours and family to calm them during the war. Death sees her the third time when a bomb kills the citizens of Himmel Street. Liesel survives because she is writing her life in the basement of the house at the time. Max survives from the concentration camps and reunited few years later with Liesel. The story ends with the death of Liesel as an old woman who lives in Australia. Reflection/Comments: The Book Thief is a historical fiction and is set in during and post-World War II Germany. The German girl, Liesel Meminger, with her father taken away due to his identity of a communist, and having eyewitnessed her young brother’s death on the way to a foster family, does not give up her life and struggles to live. During that time, the girl faces uncountable adversities in life. Nonetheless, she tries to attain her only happiness from books she steals. At the end of the story, Liesel dies as an old lady, which surprises the narrator himself. I was impressed by the way Liesel leads her life. When Liesel’s parents are gone, brother is dead, and her best friend Rudy Steiner dies as well, then her foster family and the rest of the neighbour are killed by a bomb, she is at first depressed and has lost all she has in her life. The only happiness she has from her family, her best friend and the loving foster family vanishes. However, she never feels herself hopeless. Even when all these seem to be too cruel for an 11-year-old girl, Liesel does not give up her life. Rather, she struggles to live on and survives through the war. On the last page of the book, the narrator, Death, writes “I am haunted by humans." Ironically, he is saying that even Death himself who collects souls after people’s death, has no power to alter human’s life. It is human who can struggle and lengthen their lives. This makes me think that those who are on the verge of death should not be hopeless because everyone has the right to struggle until the last minute of his/her life. The theme of the story is educating. People nowadays are too fragile to face setbacks. When having difficulties, we would easily opt for giving up rather than facing them positively. Some pessimists even believe that we should follow what ‘fate’ tells us. It is absolutely wrong. Somehow we should be strong and be brave enough to face problems. Apart from the theme, the style of the novel is also very much appreciated. Unlike other novels, it is Death, a reluctant collector of souls, who tells of Liesel’s experience. From the lines, we can see that Death’s character is well designed. He is arch but is also solicitous of his victims – especially Liesel Meminger. The humorous way that Death narrates the story makes the book more interesting. The message that the writer wants to carry out stands out more because it is told from the point of view of Death, which is more convincing. The characters are well-portrayed. Liesel, the protagonist of the story, does not know any word but after her foster father’s teaching, she becomes obsessed with reading. That becomes the reasons why she steals as many books as 14. Being called Papa, Hans Hubermann, the foster father, is calm and gentle. I especially like his wife, Rosa Hubermann, a laundress, who has poor manner as she keeps swearing and cursing constantly but loves her husband and Liesel. Her character is so lively and funny. Despite some swearing of Rosa seems to be a bit not suitable for children and teenagers, I think the book is worth-reading as it delivers a deep meaning about life. Life is not controlled by others, and even if life seems to be hard, we should try our best to live on. The story would have been a tragedy if Liesel does not struggle to live on. There would never be such a happy-ending for her. I earnestly recommend this novel to people who think that life is difficult to deal with and have thought of giving it up. This book has also enhanced my knowledge about the war-time Germany as we have previously studied in History lessons. The Jews really had a hard time during the persecution. It is morally unacceptable to crucify innocent people and everyone should have their right to live. We should learn from the past and prevent such kind of historical tragedy from happening again. In recently years, in spite of the fact that the conflict between Germans and Jews seems to be less serious, there are still so many racial conflicts from coast to coast. Wars still take place. Maybe we should try to understand more about others and try to accept others’ ideas and then the world would be much more beautiful and more comfortable to live in.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-12-31 09:30:29.
(Language: English)
I have been strong minded and not yet read any reviews of this book apart from on the dust cover. So here goes with my impressions! The story of "The Book Thief"is narrated by none other than Death.But not a ghoulish dark Grim Reaper as you might expect but a person just doing their job -almost with an air of resignation. He passes no judgment and is often quite compassionate and gentle especially when dealing with the souls of children or those who have touched us in the story as special human beings. The main character of the novel is Liesel Meminger, who with her brother is to be handed over to foster parents in a small town near Munich. The novel is set in Nazi Germany and Liesel's mother is a communist who realises it is no longer safe for the children to be with her. During the train trip to their new home, Liesel's brother dies. At the burial of her brother Liesel comes across a book "The Gravediggers Handbook" and this is the first book she steals. The book thief is born!. From then on Liesel, unable to read at first, acquires a number of books through unusual and usually nefarious means. She develops an all consuming passion for the written word and with the help of her foster father learns to read, and to eventually write her own book. To my mind the underlying themes of the book are : The power of words. - used by Adolf Hitler, for example , to mesmerise a whole nation into unthinkable deeds. Also words form an incredibly powerful bond between Liesel and Max, who is Jewish and hiding in the basement of Liesel's foster parents home. The futility of war. The redeeming heroism and humanity of ordinary people. - like her wonderful step papa Hans Huberman and her seemingly tough step mama Rosa. Not to mention Liesel herself. The Resilience of Children. Even in this time of darkness kids still squabble, have gang fights and act as kids always have. Adaptable! Markus Zusak understands children so well! I loved this book for its wonderful characters, beautiful writing,its whimsical, poignant humour and drawings. Definitely worth a reread soon after finishing to fully appreciate!
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Jeremy posted a review at 2007-09-27 02:06:43.
(Language: English)
Written from the perspective of death, I loved it! From page 573: Later, they remembered the accordion but no-one noticed the book. There was much work to be done and with a collection of other materials, The Book Thief was stepped on several times and eventually picked up without even a glance and thrown aboard a garbage truck and left, I climbed quickly up and took it in my hand... It's lucky I was there. Then again, who am I kidding? I'm in most places at least once, and in 1943 I was just about everywhere. From page 583 and 584, the closing paragraphs: Yes, I have seen a great many things in this world. I attend the greatest disasters and work for the greatest villains. But then there are other moments. There's a multitude of stories (a mere handful, as I have previously suggested) that I allow to distract me as I work, just as the colours do. I pick them up in the unluckiest, unlikeliest places and I make sure to remember them as I go about my work. The Book Thief is one such story. When I travelled to Sydney and took Liesel away, I was finally able to do something I'd been waiting for a long time. I put her down and we walked along Anzac Avenue, near the football field, and I pulled a dusty black book from my pocket. The old woman was astonished. She took it in her hand and said, "Is this really it?" I nodded. With great trepidation, she opened The Book Thief and turned the pages. "I can't believe..." Even though the text had faded, she was able to read the words. The fingers of her soul touched the story that was written so long ago in her Himmel Street basement. She sat down on the kerb, and I joined her. "Did you read it?" she asked, but she did not look at me. Her eyes were fixed to the words. I nodded. "Many times." "Could you understand it?" And at the point, there was a great pause. A few cards drove by, each way. Their drivers were Hitlers and Hubermanns, and Maxes, killers, Dillers and Steiners.... I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she didn't already know? I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race - that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words so damning and so brilliant. None of those things, however, came out of my mouth. All I was able to do was turn to Liesel Meminger and tell her the only truth I truly know. I said it to the book thief and I say it now to you. ~ A Last Note From Your Narrator ~ I am haunted by humans. Also the following two quotes: Part 1: DEATH AND CHOCOLATE First the colors. Then the humans. That's usually how I see things. Or at least, how I try. ***HERE IS A SMALL FACT *** You are going to die. I am in all truthfulness attempting to be cheerful about this whole topic, though most people find themselves hindered in believing me, no matter my protestations. Please, trust me. I most definitely can be cheerful. I can be amiable. Agreeable. Affable. And that's only the A's. Just don't ask me to be nice. Nice has nothing to do with me. ***Reaction to the *** AFOREMENTIONED fact Does this worry you? I urge you--don't be afraid. I'm nothing if not fair. --Of course, an introduction. A beginning. Where are my manners? I could introduce myself properly, but it's not really necessary. You will know me well enough and soon enough, depending on a diverse range of variables. It suffices to say that at some point in time, I will be standing over you, as genially as possible. Your soul will be in my arms. A color will be perched on my shoulder. I will carry you gently away. At that moment, you will be lying there (I rarely find people standing up). You will be caked in your own body. There might be a discovery; a scream will dribble down the air. The only sound I'll hear after that will be my own breathing, and the sound of the smell, of my footsteps. The question is, what color will everything be at that moment when I come for you? What will the sky be saying? Personally, I like a chocolate-colored sky. Dark, dark chocolate. People say it suits me. I do, however, try to enjoy every color I see--the whole spectrum. A billion or so flavors, none of them quite the same, and a sky to slowly suck on. It takes the edge off the stress. It helps me relax. ***A SMALL THEORY *** People observe the colors of a day only at its beginnings and ends, but to me it's quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations, with each passing moment. A single hour can consist of thousands of different colors. Waxy yellows, cloud-spat blues. Murky darknesses. In my line of work, I make it a point to notice them. As I've been alluding to, my one saving grace is distraction. It keeps me sane. It helps me cope, considering the length of time I've been performing this job. The trouble is, who could ever replace me? Who could step in while I take a break in your stock-standard resort-style vacation destination, whether it be tropical or of the ski trip variety? The answer, of course, is nobody, which has prompted me to make a conscious, deliberate decision--to make distraction my vacation. Needless to say, I vacation in increments. In colors. Still, it's possible that you might be asking, why does he even need a vacation? What does he need distraction from? Which brings me to my next point. It's the leftover humans. The survivors. They're the ones I can't stand to look at, although on many occasions I still fail. I deliberately seek out the colors to keep my mind off them, but now and then, I witness the ones who are left behind, crumbling among the jigsaw puzzle of realization, despair, and surprise. They have punctured hearts. They have beaten lungs. Which in turn brings me to the subject I am telling you about tonight, or today, or whatever the hour and color. It's the story of one of those perpetual survivors--an expert at being left behind. It's just a small story really, about, among other things: * A girl * Some words * An accordionist * Some fanatical Germans * A Jewish fist fighter * And quite a lot of thievery I saw the book thief three times. Part 2: BESIDE THE RAILWAY LINE First up is something white. Of the blinding kind. Some of you are most likely thinking that white is not really a color and all of that tired sort of nonsense. Well, I'm here to tell you that it is. White is without question a color, and personally, I don't think you want to argue with me. ***A REASSURING ANNOUNCEMENT *** Please, be calm, despite that previous threat. I am all bluster-- I am not violent. I am not malicious. I am a result. Yes, it was white. It felt as though the whole globe was dressed in snow. Like it had pulled it on, the way you pull on a sweater. Next to the train line, footprints were sunken to their shins. Trees wore blankets of ice. As you might expect, someone had died.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-10-07 03:26:51.
(Language: English)
Nazism and the Holocaust are issues that few novelists are brave enough to take on; this is, of course, only natural. The systematic murder of 6-million Jews, the clinical extermination of homosexuals, Slavs and disabled people, and the shuddering aggression of Hitler's reformed armies are such bare-faced examples of human tyranny, tragedy and innate hatred that they defy writers to uncover nuances worthy of good prose. Surely each tale of a Jewish family torn apart, or of a city bombed, or of millions of soldiers fighting hopeless colonial wars, can be no more tragic than the sum total of devastation; Death is a universal, not an individual phenomenon. Nikolas Zuzak's taut and inventive tale, The Book Thief, takes this concept and turns it on its head by examining a single tragedy and deftly contrasting it against the wider political and social changes underway in Germany throughout the Third Reich's abortive 12 years. In choosing Death as the narrator, Zuzak seeks to challenge the bland universality of Death as an anthropomorphism by demonstrating how each story has roots and branches from and into countless other tales and suggesting that Death himself finds the tragedy and joy of human beings endlessly fascinating. Death's narrative starts by introducing us to the story's protagonist, 8-year old Liesel Meminger, a slight and shy girl given up for adoption by her mother in 1938 to a middle-aged couple, the Hubermanns, in a smalk town on the outskirts of Munich. Liesel, haunted by witnessing the death of her diseased younger brother, is a troubled and illiterate child who soon blossoms under the patient and loving tutelage of her adoptive father, Hans. Hans and his wife, Rosa, might seem at first to be a stereotypical representation of a henpecked husband and his cuckold, but, as we soon learn, Zuzak is a master at crafting carefully layered characters to conceal tenderness that can later burst to the surface with the clarity and beauty of a mountain spring. Liesel, who at first appreciates books for their form and existence rather for the words they contain, is a lonely girl, but soon befriends Rudy Steiner, a boy whose worship of black US athlete Jesse Owens lands him in a situation typical of Zuzak's individualistic approach to telling his story. Indeed, a succession of characters - the broken, sinister Ilsa Hermann, the Hubermanns' fanatical Nazi son, and a group of thieving young tearaways - and their situations are described so that they could each stand alone as short stories. As Liesel grows older and graduates to regular book-thievery, a deal her father made during the First World War comes home with terrifying consequences as Max, a young Jew, takes refuge in the Hubermanns' house. Here the story finds its core, contrasting Hans's selflessly kind treatment of Max with the naked hatred in clear evidence around him. Far from the thieving monster Max, as a Jew, should be, Liesel soon learns that the Jews are the true victims in a society screaming for scapegoats. As time progresses and Liesel learns more about the lifestyle she has been condemned to by her adoptive parents' kindness, the story becomes increasingly bleak. Zuzak makes no pretence at a fairytale happy ending; such happy endings were atypical during the War, and even as Liesel and her co-protagonists are atypical they are realistic. The book concludes on a darkly promising note following Liesel's third and final encounter with Death. The Hubermanns' palpable terror and benevolence are wrought beautifully by Zuzak's curious style of narration, with lilting, soaring prose broken by Shakesperean asides in the form of small definitions or insights into characters. This is a powerful and unusual method, and Zuzak proves adept at using contrast and counter-intuition to convey his characters' flaws and strengths in a masterfully vivid fashion. More of a saga than a novel, The Book Thief could too easily sink into cliche or stodginess, but its smouldering storyline surges forward relentlessly, turning it into a book that is truly difficult to put down. Many of its readers will laugh at its sweet characterisations and quirky episodes; many more will weep at its mournful examination of man's inhumanity and its heart-breaking denouement. A blockbusting critique of collective inaction in the face of evil, a sun-kissed tale of youthful innocence snatched away by politics and tyranny, and a colourful exposition of a panoply of human characterisations, this superb, extraordinary novel will bear multiple re-readings. With such an achievement behind him, Zuzak should rightly take his place among great storytellers of the likes of Dickens and Tolstoy.
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A Reader posted a review at 2012-03-19 10:14:39.
(Language: English)
Have you ever been to a talk given by an author about their book or books and how they write? I have a on a few occasions and recently it was to hear Markus Zusak speak. I traveled with my husband and some friends to my Alma Mater, The College of Mount Saint Joseph, on the west side of Cincinnati returning to the auditorium I last saw upon graduation (the year of that graduation not to be mentioned). How wonderful it is to hear an author speak. Mr. Zusak’s most recent book, The Book Thief, is geared towards young adults. There were many “kids” there from the college and surrounding high schools but it was wonderful to see older readers of the book and hear their questions for the author. His accent, being from Australia was wonderful to hear and the way he told life stories that later described how he writes was fascinating. The Book Thief is set in WWII, an era that I find myself reading a lot about. It involves a young girl who has lost her father and brother and whose mother leaves her with a foster family. Her new foster parents are quite interesting and have a Jew hidden in their basement. Her foster father teaches her how to read finding the first book she stole (the name of which and how she came to steal it will break your heart). She spends many nights reading with her foster father who is always there for her when she has nightmares and she also spends a lot of time in the basement. The vision of the streets, the bomb raid warnings, the relationship with the Mayor’s wife, the Hitler youth, the Jews being marked through the streets on their way to concentration camps and much, much more really reminds you of a time that I hope we don’t see again. Mr. Zusak did talk about this time in history and how he thinks that with the wealth of information there is on WWII there will be many more stories written about this era. Lastly, I enjoyed hearing Mr. Zusak read from memory the first paragraph of his new book, which I can’t wait to read.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-01-14 04:45:02.
(Language: English)
Death has never been this busy. II World War, Nazi Germany, a country on his knees. However, terrifying times often hide somewhere wonderful, little stories and is Death itself that narrates this particular one. He needs these kind of stories to keep doing his job. And so do we. Because stories like The Book Thief are of a rare beauty.The plot sees a young girl stealing a book in a country were books are burned down. She will soon discover a real love for the words written in it. And for book thievery, of course. Her foster family will teach her how to read and they are going to be one of the most gracious parents you’ll ever have the pleasure to meet. She will find out the power that the words carry, together with her best friend and, well, with the Jew hidden in her basement. And in Munich 1942, that is something you should NOT do.The story is amazing. Zusack is profound, sarcastic, emotional, real. This is a masterpiece. One of those books you will always remember. Death itself is talking to you, are you sure you don’t want to listen? WOW. WONDERFUL. Death is the narrator. The Second Warld War is told through the eyes of a smart 14 years old. A lot of humor and a lot of pain. It moved my feelings. Robert zusack is really talented. Can't wait to read more of him
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Jennifer posted a review at 2010-04-19 12:33:28.
(Language: English)
Reviewed by Cana Rensberger for TeensReadToo.com THE BOOK THIEF is on of the most memorable books I've read in a long time. It takes place during World War II in Molching, Germany. It's the writing, the unusual narrator (death), and the characters sketched in vivid colors that make this novel so difficult to put down. Meet Leisel, the book thief, whose first encounter with death occurs on a train with her mama and brother - on their way to meet her foster parents. Meet Rosa Hubermann, Leisel's new mama, whose rough, crude exterior can't hide the heart inside. Meet Hans Hubermann, Leisel's firm foundation. The man who stays up with her after her nightmares, who teaches her to read her first stolen book, who finds empathy in a slice of stale bread. Meet Max, a Jew, the shadow in the basement, a skeleton later seen marching, or more aptly, stumbling, down the road. Meet Rudy, the lemon-haired Jesse Owens, Leisel's partner in crime and best friend, the one who yearns for Leisel's kiss. Meet the Führer, the invisible, potent master of words. Meet death, in a metal cockpit, on a snow-covered field mottled in red, hanging from a rafter at the end of a rope, sitting at a simple kitchen table, under a pile of rubble that used to be a home. Markus Zusak fills the reader with vivid images of humans at war, humans led to the unthinkable by a force they cannot control. Some go willingly, others have no choice. Those left behind are merely attempting to survive each day as life crumbles around them. Leisel survives by stealing books. As I read the final chapters of THE BOOK THIEF, I literally had to close the book to get my emotions under control before reading on to meet death. It was inevitable -- he would meet me at the end of the book. As I emerged from the story at the turning of the back cover, my reality felt so jarringly wrong. It was as though I went from a black and white silent movie to a new world: bright, free, and colorful. You cannot read this novel without feeling a resounding resolve that this should never, ever, happen again. The writing is incredible. Mr. Zusak gave death such an unusual perspective. His descriptive phrases are nothing short of brilliant. THE BOOK THIEF is a powerful read that should not be missed by anyone, teen or adult!
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-05-31 06:07:11.
(Language: English)
This book came highly recommended and positively reviewed by so many different readers, both offline and online. In the back of my mind, I knew there was a possibility that this would be one of those books that become popularized in the reading world for no real concrete reason. Thankfully, that wasn't the case with The Book Thief.Narrated by Death himself, you'd think this novel would be mostly depressing. Quite the opposite; it is life-affirming. As we walk with Liesel through her formative years we watch as she becomes wise beyond her time, thanks to her surroundings, choices, and circumstances. Living as a foster child in Germany during World War II, Liesel's life is enriched by her friends, neighbors, family, and is damaged irretrievably by enemies she didn't deserve. Although this is a fictional account, I feel that in many ways, Liesel's experiences are symbolical and utterly essential to learning about the inexplainable truths and disappointments that so many have had to face. As she makes her way through the terrors of war, Liesel conveys a heart of courage and thoughtfulness that many would have trouble displaying in peacetime.Throughout the novel, Liesel steals books. Sometimes from desperation, sometimes from anger, and sometimes just because they are there for the taking. But Liesel isn't a typical thief, not by any means. Books mean even more to Liesel than they do to most of us who consider ourselves bookworms. Her books are real, sacred connections to her past, present, and future.It's not often you find a novel that is written so simply yet so lyrically. The way the author used words, it was just amazing. Here are a few quotes: It kills me sometimes, how people die. Even the wrinkles around her eyes were joining hands. Imagine smiling after a slap in the face. Then think of doing it twenty-four hours a day. That was the business of hiding a Jew. She could see the light on Max's eggshell face and even taste the human flavor of his words.I can now officially join the multitude of people who hold this book and its deeply creative author in high esteem.
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Phil posted a review at 2009-03-08 04:30:42.
(Language: English)
I was disappointed by this book, mainly because I was expecting it to be fantastic – and it was really just 'good.' The best thing for me was that it showed WWII from the point of view of a working class German street which we duly bombed. What was extraordinary was the courage of the family in providing safe haven for, and showing public kindness to a Jew. The story of Liesel (the eponymous heroine) was touching and you got a real sense of her loss and her strength. So lots of good things to say about this one. What I found irritating was some of the style. The little blocks of centred bold text with the opposing peacock motifs I could have done without – maybe that's part of this being a book for young adults. Zusak wrote some very interesting descriptive phrases – I wish I could remember one now – and they really stood out and must have taken some writing. But that's why they irritate – because it makes you realise that you're reading someone's work rather than being lost in the narrative. It actually stops you suspending disbelief. On a side note, it was the first time I can recall that everyone In the group had actually finished the book! We read this in the book group and everyone liked it. I was expecting to think it was fabulous but in the end thought it was just 'good' so I was a tad disappointed. I found some of the stylistic stuff (the pull out lines, the section headers with the titles of the ensuing chapters and so on) actually ratehr irritating in the end - but I put that down to this being more of a teenager/young adult book and me being something of a young fogey. The good thing about it is that it tells a WWII story from the perspective of a German family who were as much a victim of the war as anyone else.
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