The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
Knopf Books for Young Readers
Summary: Death himself narrates the World War II-era story of Liesel Meminger from the time she is taken, at age nine, to live in Molching, Germany, with a foster family in a working-class neighborhood of tough kids, acid-tongued mothers, and loving fathers who earn their living by the work of their hands. The child arrives having just stolen her first book–although she has not yet learned how to read–and her foster father uses it, The Gravediggers Handbook, to lull her to sleep when shes roused by regular nightmares about her younger brothers death. Across the ensuing years of the late 1930s and into the 1940s, Liesel collects more stolen books as well as a peculiar set of friends: the boy Rudy, the Jewish refugee Max, the mayors reclusive wife (who has a whole library from which she allows Liesel to steal), and especially her foster parents. Zusak not only creates a mesmerizing and original story but also writes with poetic syntax, causing readers to deliberate over phrases and lines, even as the action impels them forward. Death is not a sentimental storyteller, but he does attend to an array of satisfying details, giving Liesels story all the nuances of chance, folly, and fulfilled expectation that it deserves. An extraordinary narrative.
Personal Review: This was an amazing book. From beginning to end I had a hard time putting it down. Its portrayal of characters, the nonconventional viewpoint of Death as the narrator, and the touching yet tragic story of Liesel, who has seen more death than any young girl ought to, really grabbed my attention. It is over 500 pages, but each page contains something worth discussing, or something that human beings can relate to. Zusak himself says that this book is about both the beautiful and the destructive things that human beings are capable of. Below is an interview with the author about his inspiration and motivation to write this book.
by Markus Zusak
Knopf Books for Young Readers
Summary: Death himself narrates the World War II-era story of Liesel Meminger from the time she is taken, at age nine, to live in Molching, Germany, with a foster family in a working-class neighborhood of tough kids, acid-tongued mothers, and loving fathers who earn their living by the work of their hands. The child arrives having just stolen her first book–although she has not yet learned how to read–and her foster father uses it, The Gravediggers Handbook, to lull her to sleep when shes roused by regular nightmares about her younger brothers death. Across the ensuing years of the late 1930s and into the 1940s, Liesel collects more stolen books as well as a peculiar set of friends: the boy Rudy, the Jewish refugee Max, the mayors reclusive wife (who has a whole library from which she allows Liesel to steal), and especially her foster parents. Zusak not only creates a mesmerizing and original story but also writes with poetic syntax, causing readers to deliberate over phrases and lines, even as the action impels them forward. Death is not a sentimental storyteller, but he does attend to an array of satisfying details, giving Liesels story all the nuances of chance, folly, and fulfilled expectation that it deserves. An extraordinary narrative.
Personal Review: This was an amazing book. From beginning to end I had a hard time putting it down. Its portrayal of characters, the nonconventional viewpoint of Death as the narrator, and the touching yet tragic story of Liesel, who has seen more death than any young girl ought to, really grabbed my attention. It is over 500 pages, but each page contains something worth discussing, or something that human beings can relate to. Zusak himself says that this book is about both the beautiful and the destructive things that human beings are capable of. Below is an interview with the author about his inspiration and motivation to write this book.
Cautionary Note: This book will make you cry. Okay, maybe not, but it is not a light hearted, "fluffy" book. There is also a lot of swearing in German (which he translates).
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