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16 internautes sur 16 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
5.0étoiles sur 5
For Teens Huh?, Nov. 3 2007
I am 54 years old by my figuring I haven't been a teen for 35 years. Ouch. I picked this book up and almost didn't buy it because of it's designation that it was for young readers. But something about it interested me and it ended up in my shopping cart. An incredible read from start to finish. I like historical fiction, I like having other times and other places illuminated for me - put into a context that I can understand. This book does that for me, it allows me to hold souls in my hands. I never felt manipulated by the author, never felt that cheap tricks were used, instead I had the sense of having my hand taken by a gentle guide who walked me down Himmel Street during the time of war.
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14 internautes sur 15 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
5.0étoiles sur 5
Even Death Has a Heart, Jui 8 2007
Born in Sydney in 1975, Markus Zusak is the youngest of four children and the son of Austrian and German parents. He grew up hearing stories about Nazi Germany, two of which led to him writing "The Book Thief".
The story is told by Death, who tries not to take too much of an interest in humans - sometimes, however, he can't help himself. In "The Book Thief", Death follows the story of Liesel Meminger - a young German girl he first meets in January 1939. Liesel is nine years old and travelling by train to Munich with her mother and brother, Werner. Liesel's mother is having difficulty providing for her family and is constantly ill. In the hope of a better life for her children, she has arranged for them to be fostered with a family in Molching - a town close to Munich. Here, she hopes they will be fed and educated better than she could provide. Unfortunately, Werner doesn't make it - he dies and is buried on the journey, giving Death his first meeting with Liesel. Werner's funeral is where the Book Thief is born, when Liesel 'acquires' a copy of "The Gravediggers Handbook". Her pilfering, naturally, doesn't finish there - and it isn't always restricted to books.
Liesel's new family, the Hubermanns, live on Himmel Street in Molching. Liesel's new foster-mother is the foul-mouthed and (apparently) permanently cross Rosa Hubermann. Even worse, her cooking is as bad as her language. Hans, Liesel's 'new' father, is a different matter entirely. He's a kind, loving and patient man, who works as a painter and is a WW1 veteran. His main pleasures in life are centred around tobacco and playing the accordion. He also teaches Liesel read and write - something Liesel is very keen on - with "The Gravediggers Handbook" being used as the starting point in her education. After Hans, two other men play a big part in Liesel's life in Molching. One is her permanently hungry best friend Rudy Steiner, who is also a big fan of Jesse Owens. (This is just the sort of thing that could get you in trouble in Nazi Germany). Although Rudy is always on the lookout for food, there's only one thing he's truly desperate for : a kiss from Liesel. The Book Thief's 'other' best friend isn't introduced until a little further into the book : a Jewish man by the name of Max, who -like Liesel - is a fairly useful fighter.
"The Book Thief" was published in Australia as an 'adult' title, but as a Young Adult novel in America. The truth is, both age ranges will enjoy this story - it's very easily read book, with very likeable characters - Liesel, Hans and Rudy particularly stood out for me. Death proves to be a sympathetic, likeable and even, occasionally, witty character - something this Death has in common with Terry Pratchett's Death. (Of course, there's a lot less silliness and a good deal more sadness here than in one of the Discworld books). A beautiful book, well worth reading.
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13 internautes sur 14 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
5.0étoiles sur 5
The Book Thief...magnificent!, Aoû 12 2006
An incredibly beautiful book!
This is a story of a young German girl abandoned in the late 1930's and her ordeal of survival over the war years in Nazi Germany.
The story is told by the personified spirit of Death; a sympathetic Death who is so worn out and so tired from the countless millenniums of collecting souls. A Death so discouraged by man's inhumanity to man that when is sees something special in our heroine (the book thief) he decides to follow her story over the next few years.
Deeply, deeply moving, insightful and, as is often the case in periods of dire circumstance, occasionally humorous. There were moments of profound revelation, moments of quiet discovery that took my breath away; moments when it was difficult not to stop reading and reflect on what one has just read.
Reading this book reminded me somewhat of "The Diary of Anne Franck" and although the stories were completely different there was a connection because of the era involved and the wonderful, emotional impact of the written word on the page.
All in all, a beautiful, compelling story. Highly recommended! 5 Stars, more if I could.
P.S. surprisingly enough this book is found in the young adult section of most book stores; this I feel is a inappropriate classification. This novel really is an adult book and should be placed as such.
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