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The Book Thief

By: Markus Zusak

Quote B&N

It’s just 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. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel 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 before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

The Book Thief is possibly one of the best books I've ever read, and it's not surprise that B&N has it listed under the "Discovering Great New Writers" section. At first glance, the summary dragged me in, and I didn't resurface many times during the course of the novel. I guess it was boring in some parts, but only for a few pages here and there-- never for the extended amount of time that some novels drag their dull parts out.

One of the most amazing things about this book-- to me-- is the narrator. The person-- or entity-- narrating the book is 'Death' himself, though not the usual 'Death' you think of. He is funny, sometimes, and as he states near the beginning of the book, 'he's trying to be lighthearted about this whole thing'. And you feel like someone is talking to you as you read the book, which is a marvel compared to some of the more popluar books I've read.

Though, the narrator may seem like a real person... entity... thing, he's still only a piece of the mastery of this book. I love how it's written, and the narrator, but I also love the story, and the fact that this novel (at least by the standards of the people at TVtropes.com) is a tear-jerker. Even after the ending of the book is ruined several times by 'Death' (who, by the way, comments on the fact that he's spoiling it halfway through the book) it still made me almost cry, which is much farther then any book has gone since Where the Red Fern Grows. This book has also made me laugh, be at the edge of my seat, and every other feeling...

Overall, I would definately reccomend this book-- in fact, I am, aren't I?-- and ... well, I like this book. A lot.

WARNINGS:

Hello

Hi

First off, hello, and welcome to the first post of my blog/review thing. Anyway, this thing will probably crash and burn and I'll forget about it within a few weeks. And The Book Thief review (and this) will sit rotting away in this blog until somebody decides to delete it. Yay.

Anyway, on to the whole purpose of creating this thing-- besides the fact that I'm a coward and only want recognition from people I can't see-- is to review books. And books, and more books. All the time I see really, really good books never get any recognition-- ever. Not on B&N, not on anywhere else. So, yeah. Onto The Book Thief.