The Book Thief – Review

Posted by Lana on Feb 10, 2010 in Book Reviews, Featured | 0 comments

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, is told through the eyes of a young girl, Liesel Meminger, who becomes a book thief through unusual circumstances. Narrated by Death, this story unfolds during the height of Hitler’s reign in ,Germany World War II. As witness to her first thievery, Death follows her on her journey, using raw imagery and striking language to depict her harsh, yet beautiful life. The story is so complex, with rich character development, and many tear jerking moments.

From the Washington Post:

Death meets the book thief, a 9-year-old girl named Liesel Meminger, when he comes to take her little brother, and she becomes an enduring force in his life, despite his efforts to resist her. “I traveled the globe . . . handing souls to the conveyor belt of eternity,” Death writes. “I warned myself that I should keep a good distance from the burial of Liesel Meminger’s brother. I did not heed my advice.” As Death lingers at the burial, he watches the girl, who can’t yet read, steal a gravedigger’s instruction manual. Thus Liesel is touched first by Death, then by words, as if she knows she’ll need their comfort during the hardships ahead.

This book is so good! It has so many elements that absorb you into the story with just enough hints of what’s coming next to make you not want to stop until you’ve reached the end. Here are some highlighted segments to pique your curiosity:

Death, as the narrator, is cleverly intertwined, taking us on Liesel’s journey with wit and sarcasm as the tone. Death doesn’t enjoy his job…he’s afraid of humans. There are little snippets before each chapter that tells you what’s to come, and even translates German words -how helpful!
The foster father is a good man, becoming the father she never had. Their relationship from the very start is tender, loving, and so selfless on his part. He teaches her how to read in the most unique way.
They hide a Jew in their basement. The back story to how this comes about could be a book all to itself!
Liesel’s best friend Rudy is a very memorable character, and pivotal to the book’s theme and plot. He plays a very important role in her life.
The mayor’s wife, who at first is seemingly just a means to an end, becomes the saving grace for Liesel.

There is so much more to this book that I can’t do justice in trying to describe – you’ll have to read it for yourself –you’ll be glad you did!

[xrr rating=5/5]

Pros:

Flows well, even though there are many story lines going on at once
Character development is fantastic
Even with heavy subject matter (holocaust, death, starvation, loss, suffering), the narration brings (although dark) humor to the story making it, in the end, a very uplifting read

Cons:

Takes a few chapters to really get absorbed into the story, but once you do, it’s mesmerizing

About Markus Zusak from Random House:

Australian author Markus Zusak grew up hearing stories about Nazi Germany, about the bombing of Munich and about Jews being marched through his mother’s small, German town. He always knew it was a story he wanted to tell.

At the age of 30, Zusak has already asserted himself as one of today’s most innovative and poetic novelists. With the publication of The Book Thief, he is now being dubbed a ‘literary phenomenon’ by Australian and U.S. critics. Zusak is the award-winning author of four previous books for young adults: The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, Getting the Girl, and I Am the Messenger, recipient of a 2006 Printz Honor for excellence in young adult literature. He lives in Sydney.