Book Review- The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

 

Summary:

The extraordinary #1 New York Times bestseller that will be in movie theaters on November 15, 2013, Markus Zusak's unforgettable story is about the ability of books to feed the soul.

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. 

My Thoughts:

Plot-

Usually, if you ask someone what this book is about, they'll say it's simply about a little girl in Germany in the time of World War II who starts stealing books. And that's true- but there's more than just that.

The Book Thief is about friendship, hard times, sacrifice, LOVE, death, and so much more.

Narrated by Death himself, it's the story of a little girl named Liesel Meminger. In the prologue Death shares the tale of what I assumed is how Liesel dies. I think this is one of the many reason this book is considered "sad', because as you grow to love Liesel, the whole time you know from information in the prologue that she's going to die. Death also talks about the 3 times he met Liesel, and gives us a little piece of what he's about to share with us. He then goes from the beginning- well, not exactly the beginning- he starts in 1939 when I believe Liesel is 9 or 10. Her mother decides to give her up for adoption, knowing that it will be better for her- maybe she'll get some more food and will have a better chance of surviving.

When she arrives at her foster family's house she quickly forms a bond with her foster father Hans. After Hans teaches Liesel how to read, she then forms a love affair with books. Sooner or later, she wants more- and her love leads her to thievery. She starts stealing books from book burnings, the mayor's wife's library- wherever she can find them.

As I said, this isn't all to the story. Liesel also forms a strange friendship with a wacky boy with the hair of lemons- Rudy. Since they're both very poor, they also start stealing together. But not books, (at least not yet) potatoes, apples, anything to get the stomachs a bit fuller. 

It's also about the Jewish fist fighter Liesel's (foster) family hides in their basement and how the little girl's influence and company helps cheer the poor Jew up. 

This book is in 3rd person- actually Death's perspective, so we do get to learn some more about the other characters like Rudy or Max, and get to see some of their inner thoughts that they do not share with The Book Thief.

Even though the storyline didn't pick up right away, I enjoyed every second of it. There was never a dull moment, something interesting or heart warming was always happening, that involved stealing or not.

Characters-

The characters were the best part. Liesel, Max, Hans, Rudy, Rosa, even Death, they had such distinct personalities and if I started reading the book to you with out all the "Max said, and Liesel saids" you would still be able to figure out exactly who was speaking. 

I would usually say "Blank was my favorite" at this point in my review, but I can't do that here. All of the characters were superb, how am I supposed to choose just one?

Even the secondary characters were great. Ilsa Herman, Barbara Stiener, Frau Holtzapfel, they were all very interesting to read about as well.

There were just so many of them! I can't possibly talk about them all. Tummy Muller was.... strange, and Victor Kemmel was a jerk. 

Needless to say, when you read this book, at least one of the characters will pull you in and make you want to continue. Because there's a character for everyone here.

Overall-

Overall, this book was amazing! I think a lot of people hesitate to read this book because others have told them it's incredibly sad- which it is, but just because a book is sad doesn't mean there are no happy moments in it. The Book Thief is no doubt the best book I've read this year and I can't wait to re-read it soon. After all, that's why I buy books in the first place, so I can fall in love with the story all over again. 

★★★★★

Piper