The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak

"It's just a small story, really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, a Jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery ..." Narrated in the all-knowing matter-of-fact voice of Death, witnessing the story of the citizens of Himmel Street: When nine-year-old Liesel arrives outside the boxlike house of her new foster parents, she refuses to get out of the car. Liesel has been separated from her parents - 'Kommunists' - for ever, and at the burial of her little brother, she steals a gravedigger's instruction manual which she can't read. It is the beginning of her illustrious career. In the care of the Hubermans, Liesel befriends blond-haired Rudy Steiner, her neighbour obsessed with Jesse Owens. She also befriends the mayor's wife, who hides from despair in her library. Together Liesel and Rudy steal books - from Nazi book burning piles, from the mayor's library, from the richer people of Molching. In time, the family hide a Jewish boxer, Max, who reads with Liesel in the basement. By 1943, the Allied bombs are falling, and the sirens begin to wail. Liesel shares out her books in the air-raid shelters.
But one day in the life of Himmel street, the wail of the sirens comes too late ...A life-changing tale of the cruel twists of fate and the coincidences on which all our lives hinge, this is also a joyous look at the power of book to nourish the soul. Its uplifting ending will make all readers weep.

Reviewed by readingwithwrin on

5 of 5 stars

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“I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she didn't already know? I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race-that rarely do I ever 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.”

Disclaimer: I watched the movie first.
Having said that though I'm so glad I did because it gave me a different viewpoint and without it I would have been rather annoyed with how the book constantly spoils itself with Death mentioning things before they happened or going back and forth and visiting other things even though he had already told you what happened. But while you did know certain things were going to happen, they weren't fully described until Death went back to them and told them to you in detail.

Now for the Characters.
Liesel she was an amazing young character. When the story starts we meet her on the train with her brother where they have been given up to foster care by their mother trying to protector them from the Nazi's. Sadly due to spontaneous events her brother doesn't make it and it is just her. From there she gets taken to Hans and Rosa Hubermann who become her new mom and dad. After being there awhile, and slowly learning how to read and write, she starts feeling more comfortable feeling more comfortable in her surrounding you really see her come out of her shell and become "the book thief".

Hans and Rosa Hubermann I didn't really like Rosa for quite awhile at first she just appears to be a cranky woman who is rude, but as you get to know her you see that that is how she shows her love and that she is mean to people to protect herself from getting hurt. As for Hans you instantly love him and are so thankful that Liesel got him for a father because he teaches her so much and has the patience of a saint with her.

Rudy was such a good character he was funny, and serious when he needed to be. He took care of Liesel and Tommy and tried to protect both of them even if it meant that he got hurt as well. Rudy and Liesel had such a good friendship and were always there for each other when they needed to be. Plus they made a pretty good thieving pair to.

Max was an interesting character he was a fighter before he had to go into hiding and that's what he was known for. But after he had to go into hiding and ended up on the Hubermanns door he became a story teller of sorts. He would write several stories to Liesel, and he also entertained her with stories of him and Hitler fighting.

Overall I really loved this story and I am so glad I waited to read it until I was in the right mood.

"Silence was not quite or calm and it was not peace."

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 22 July, 2015: Finished reading
  • 22 July, 2015: Reviewed