Customer Reviews

The Book Thief

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

Reviewed by: Cana Rensberger

"So I looked, and behold, a pale horse.
And the name of him who sat on it was Death,
and Hades followed with him." --Revelation 6:8

I'm sure that at least several hundred reviews
of The Book Thief have summarized it far better
than I could. Let me address something else:
Many people don't think they want to read
another story about Nazi Germany filled with
lots of inhumanity. I suspect that reason is
why I waited for a long time to read this
highly regarded novel.

While The Book Thief is based in Nazi Germany
and will give you more than you think about
each day in terms of terrible things that
happened then and there, it would be wrong to
think of this book as being another morality
play presented in that context.

The Book Thief in instead a testament to the
importance of love, the value of truthful words
in opposing untruthful ones, and the inevitability
of guilt. As a result, this is a positive book.

Will you be sad after reading it? Sure. I know
that I was.

But Mr. Zusak has a very nice writing style that
gently prepares you for what's coming while still
switching the actual results around from the
obvious just enough to make the story interesting
to continue reading. He never kicks you when your
emotions are down. As a result, you can bear
reading about more suffering than you think you
can. It's a gift.

I think one of the great values of this book is
that it will encourage many people who don't think
about death to wonder about what happens after
they die.

"O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?"
-- 1 Corinthians 15:55

" . . . if you confess with your mouth the Lord
Jesus and believe in your heart that God has
raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
-- Romans 10:9

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. Well worth reading.

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.

Molching Germany 1939, Liesel Meminger is taken in by a foster family Hans and Rosa Huberman when her mother is forced to abandon her. She arrives with very little possessions; one of them is a book she had stolen from her brother's burial place "The Digger's Handbook".

Hans, a kind man, spends his nights keeping Leisel's nightmares at bay by teaching her to read. She falls in love with words and reading becomes an obsession, books are a luxury for a poor family. During this time, Hitler gains more power and decides that he would rule the world with words, Germany becomes a dangerous place and the people live in constant fear. During a book burning session Liesel rescues a smouldering book from the pile and later on becomes a full-fledge book thief when she steals a book from the library of the mayor.

This is a gripping story told from DEATH'S POINT OF VIEW, a very unique method of storytelling. A book about many things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, Jewish misery and a lot of thievery. I have to share with those saying that the brilliance of this book is not in the plot but in the narrative. Death is personified and narrates the story in a tone mixed with sadness and cynicism involving Nazis and Jews. The tale is surprisingly gentle while effectively portraying the atrocities and the horrors of World War11.

Regrettably some adults may miss the experience of this book, as it is marketed for young adults and teenagers. Some passages are profound and the subtle nuances could be missed by younger teens. It is a fantastic read with an emotional impact.

Outstanding book for all ages teen through seniors. The odd perspective from which it is written (death) gives a stunning read. Don't miss it. Well worth the purchase.

Nancy Retired Nurse

Don't be scared of the gloomy subject of this book. This is a tender and lovely, albeit very sad, story. My teenage daughter actually suggested this book to me, and I am so glad she did. Teenagers are definitely the target audience for this book, but people of all ages will identify with the struggles of ordinary people living under the Nazi regime. That Death is the narrator adds a sophisticated literary touch to it, but the story never losses its kindheartedness appeal. This book also humanizes the German common folk in a way that, to this day, authors are reluctant to do. Very seldom Germans living during the WWII are given the degree of humanity and dignity that is shown in The Book Thief.

This is the book I have enjoyed most this past year. It gave a different perspective of WW2 in Germany. The narrator being death was amazing. Truly great characters.

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.