The Book Thief in Reading Buddy Style

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The Book Thief

Markus Zusak

Start date: May 1, 2014

Finish date: May 31, 2014

Discussion: Meg's pick

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Meg's pick

April 2015: Silent Spring
By Megan · 1 post · 2 views

last updated Mar 19, 2015 07:24AM

March 2015: The Princes of Ireland
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last updated Feb 17, 2015 05:39AM

What Members Thought

Feb 04, 2010 Gabriella Gricius rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016-reads, december-2016

Why Read: The Book Thief is one of those books that I've known of for quite some time. I was never sure if I had read it once as a child long ago and forgotten or if I had never read it at all. After talking about it with a close friend of mine, I felt the need to double check that I had read this book of books (because Death is a narrator... so.... so I had to read it!). As it turns out, I had not read it and the situation had to be rectified immediately.
Review: After reading enough Terry Prat Why Read: The Book Thief is one of those books that I've known of for quite some time. I was never sure if I had read it once as a child long ago and forgotten or if I had never read it at all. After talking about it with a close friend of mine, I felt the need to double check that I had read this book of books (because Death is a narrator... so.... so I had to read it!). As it turns out, I had not read it and the situation had to be rectified immediately.
Review: After reading enough Terry Pratchett books to fill a small garage, the concept of Death as the main narrator in a story is not surprising to me. But Death as a mildly serious character who makes dry and cutting commentary into how humans slowly destroy each other was all-together new. The main character, Liesel and her slow descent into learning about what it meant to be the sought after during World War 2 was enthralling to read (serious character development props).
How to describe the distinct and beautiful writing style? One scene in particular that caught my eye was when Rudy, Liesel's best friend, is taken before the authorities to decide whether or not he will be taken as a primary German specimen. The words are absolutely stunning to read, and before I had noticed, I was already in the room with Rudy and watching the cold impersonal manner of the doctors. On occasion, special writers like Zusak remind me what words can accomplish.
What makes the book all the more remarkable is that it shows the incredible power of words while simultaneously reminding us that in the face of such horrible hatred: they are not infallible. Bombs, mass genocide and people who hold nothing but hatred in their hearts are strong. Books protect us to an extent in the most idealistic of ways. We can survive the terrible burning of them if we write our own, and keep ourselves from only hating, from sinking down to the same level.
While I don't want to compare Hitler and the regime of the Nazis to the unspeakable inauguration happening at the end of this week, it's that same thought process that somehow convinces people that it's okay (in fact: it's preferable) to hate those who are different than us. We should not hate "back." We should sit down with these people who are so incentivised to hate and figure out why there's such anger in the American public.
Okay. Soapbox speech over. I just want to say that everyone should read the Book Thief at the very least and think about the power of just one book.
Rating: 5/5 Stars ...more

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Jan 11, 2010 Kirsten rated it it was amazing

Fabulous, intense, moving. Interesting how effective it is to have Death as the narrator. Liesl made a great focus for the story, and how many lives were affected by Hitler's regime -not just Jews. ...more

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