Published:
March 14th, 2006 by Knopf Books
Source:
Purchased
Format: Audio
book narrated by Alan Corduner
Genre:
Historical fiction
Group age:
Young adult
Grade rate: A++
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 Review
To start with a quote, this book is:
“It’s a small story really,
about, among other things:
* A girl
* Some words
* An accordionist
* Some fanatical Germans
* A Jewish fist fighter
* And quite a lot of
thievery”
I typically avoid historical fiction when it’s based on
real wars. Why? I’m not sure myself, but it’s probably
because of the toll of death and suffering that I’m sure to find. I finally picked up The Book Thief, after seeing both the previous for the movie and
also after seeing so many recommendations around the book blogs and Goodreads.
I wish, not for the first time, and I’m sure it will not
be the last, that I was a gifted writer.
I wish that I was someone that could put into words the magic that sits
between the pages of The Book Thief. Alas, since I cannot, you are stuck with this
review instead. The Book Thief is, without
any doubt, one of the best books I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
What made this book perfection for me is Zusak’s unusual
writing.
Words have a meaning beyond words and feelings, they convey colors,
visions, smells, pain, touch; words become concrete, tangible and above all,
powerful. The narrator of Liesel’s
story is Death itself. It’s not a scary
book at all, it is filled with many emotions, but horror is not one of them.
Liesel has seen a lot of heartache in her short life. She
is taken to a small town near Munich to foster parents just before WWII starts. Here Liesel finds a family, a best friend and
words. I think words, and therefore,
books, have such a big meaning for Liesel because she was deprived of both in
her earlier years. She forms bonds
forged in fear, love, hate,
The
characterization is incredibly amazing.
Rudy, Papa, Mama, Max, friends and enemies alike become alive. They are all distinct individuals with their
own lives, fears and stories. I wish I
could tell you more about these characters, but I don’t want to ruin the story
for you. Just know that regardless of
what happened, I was glad I got to meet all of you.
The Book Thief is
not about the allies or the Germans or about right and wrong; it’s about how
the decisions of others changed the life of many in an irreversible way. It’s about feeling and showing hate because
it’s safer to do so, and the courage to do otherwise. It’s about doing the
right thing when the right thing is viewed as betrayal. It’s about the power of
words to change the life one girl, her adopted parents, her friends, and one Jew.
I cannot find
fault with this book and I will not try to find any. As I mentioned above, the writing is sublime.
The format of the book is different,
as it’s divided in parts, each with a set of subtitles that might constitute
chapters. Death, our narrator gives us
advanced glimpses as what is to come, but I still felt the ending hit me like a
punch on the face. As I listen to the
final chapters of the book (and I was driving, mind you!), I cried like a baby.
I consider it my
duty to tell you that if you decide to read The
Book Thief, and I hope you do, please have tissues handy because there’s
not getting away from crying. Even
now as I think back to the story or as I selected a few quotes to include in
this review, my eyes water and I have to hold back tears. That, my dear readers, is powerful. Perfection.
Some quotes for you:
“People observe the colors
of a day only at its beginnings and ends, but to me it's quite clear that a day
merges through a multitude of shades and intonations with each passing moment.
A single hour can consist of thousands of different colors. Waxy yellows,
cloud-spot blues. Murky darkness. In my line of work, I make it a point to
notice them."
“A small but noteworthy
note. I've seen so many young men over the years who think they're running at
other young men. They are not. They are running at me.”
“She
said it out loud, the words distributed into a room that was full of cold air
and books. Books everywhere! Each wall was armed with overcrowded yet
immaculate shelving. It was barely possible to see paintwork. There were all
different styles and sizes of lettering on the spines of the black, the red,
the gray, the every-colored books. It was one of the most beautiful things
Liesel Meminger had ever seen.
With wonder, she smiled.
That such a room existed!”
“I wanted to explain that I
am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race - that rarely
do I even simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be
so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant...I
AM HAUNTED BY HUMANS.”
About the Cover:
This is probably the only bad thing about the book. It’s uninspiring and
not relevant.
Have you read the Book Thief? Have you seen the movie yet? Do you like bookd/movies about wars? Why or why not?
