The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
NoveList Summary: Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel--a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbors.
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9 comments:
I really enjoyed this book though it is about a serious subject. Liesel and Max are beautifully crafted characters. Her love of books is neat and plays an important role in the novel. Max's ability to show his love and thanks to Liesel through drawings is an interesting addition to the novel--drawing seems to comfort him. I read it last year but it left a strong impression on me.
I would highly recommend this book, since it provides completely different perspectives on World War II than typical Holocaust novels. Death is an incredible narrator equipped with a sense of humor. This is a book that you keep passing the title on again and again to friends and family members who love to read. Should appeal to all generations and both genders.
biThe Book Thief is a wonderful choice because both adults and teens could read the same book, since it is a YA title. It is a touching story told by one of the most interesting narrators around-- Death. Excellent choice! Marcus Zusak gets my vote!
I personally didn't enjoy this book as much as others. It has also been read by many teens as it was a RI Teen Book Award 2008 nominee.
from Pat Brinegar: This novel is a well-kept secret that would make an outstanding read for RARI. My two book club groups reviewed it last spring, and to a one, everyone liked it very much, ranking it higher than any novel we had read during the year. The fact that it is not well-known is a plus. (It was published as an adult read in Australia, a young adult read in the USA.) Surely, everyone enjoys originality and creativity, qualities that enrich this novel. The story is told by a narrator who is Death--but not the Death that we intuit, but rather a humble being who grieves with the grievers. It is but one of few novels that speak of a heinous era in the world's history, the Holocaust, from the viewpoint of the Germans, and through the voice and experiences of a young girl who grows to maturity in the bitter duration and aftermath of a wartorn country. Because of the author's use of voice, the character development, originality, and playfulness to counter disaster, the novel would appeal to the great majority of our readers, readers of all ages.
from Pat Brinegar: When reading the novels described in this blog reply, I found myself comparing and contrasting each with The Book Thief on character development, originality, and the effective use of literary devices: voice or point of view, symbolism, imagery. setting, conflict, theme, etc. In each case, I found The Book Thief was the more outstanding read. It is also both character driven and plot driven. It appeals to both emotion and intellect, and promises to raise the tone of our intellectual life.
I highly recommend The Book Thief as the RARI pick for 2009.
I am very pleased to see this book getting its deserved attention. I read it last year and have been "selling" it to everyone. It is a story that deserves discussion, book clubs, dissection.
The Book Thief is the best book that I read since Bel Canto and The Secret Life of Bees. Amidst the horrors of war,Love is shown in deeply moving ways, though reading is the central mover. The characters are memorable. I know that it didn't make it, but I wanted to give my vote and would have loved to see it R.I. Book of the year. (Another book of Zuzak's
that is astoundingly moving is I Am the Messenger. I can't wait till his next book!
Dianne Grinnell
This book is great! At first I thought that it was a little bit boring, but once I started getting into it, it was outstanding. It really sends out a good message. The ending was pretty sad, but it had some happy parts to it. I have to say that this book really touched me and made me feel differently about people who lived during World War 2. I give thanks and congratulations to anyone who lived through that time or fought in the war. Boy or girl, you will love this book.
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