The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Book Thief
Book Review: 5 Stars not enough
Summary: 5 Stars
This book needs to be in a special category where we can give a book of this caliber a whole constellation of stars. I'm not into giving away the plot of a book...other's do that so well. This book is so inventive, so beautifully written, so lovingly narrated (by Death! who is a most compassionate character) it is a joy to behold. For YA readers (and I'm glad I didn't know that it was for that audience because I may have skipped it) the book has some drawings and lots of white space so they feel like they are reading a very long (over 500 page) book, when, in reality, with different typesetting and formatting it could easily fit into 250 pages. The characters will stay with you forever and all I can really say is read it, read it, read it and then buy 5 copies and give it to everyone you love. I did get to hear Markus Zusak speak at a bookstore and he said it is the story of his grandmother. It is amazing what people can live through. He is a really great speaker and a fantastic writer. Treat yourself to one of the best books you will ever love.Book Review: 5 stars isn't enough!!
Summary: 5 Stars
My Rating: 5 stars isn't enough!
How do I, as a book blogger, review a book that is wrought with so much emotion and so much angst and turmoil that I was sobbing by the end of the book? How can I adequately put into words how much of an impact this book had on me as a human being? I honestly don't know if it is possible to review this book effectively, but I'll give it my best shot!
I am a huge fan of historical fiction, especially of events in and around World War II. The Holocaust was an absolutely horrifying event in our world's history (and horrifying is putting it mildly), but I am, for whatever reason, drawn towards these types of fictional and non-fictional accounts of WWII. I don't know why. I break down crying every time I read a book about this time period, but I continue to seek out more of it. I wish I could explain it.
The Book Thief is a unique story in that it is narrated by Death. I was a bit leery at first because I wasn't sure how this type of narration would play out through the entire novel. I have to say that it worked wonderfully and I can't imagine the book told in any other way, without losing the power and overall feeling of the story. From the very first page, Death hooks the reader with His (Her?) account of his many visits to Germany during WWII. But, this story isn't just about Death, even though he was around quite a bit during that time. It is a story about a young German girl named Liesel Meminger, otherwise known as The Book Thief. It is a story about how books can help a person survive in a period of utter despair. It is a story of relationships; of love; of friendship; and of the power of the written word.
I've written and re-written this review many times. I've decided not to go into any details because I don't want to give away the magic of the novel. It is spellbinding, but heart-wrenching. It is a book that must be experienced first-hand. No review could possibly do it justice.
I will leave it at that.
Jennifer
[...]
Book Review: 75 Pages in and unimpressed
Summary: 1 Stars
Because of the solid reviews on this book, I ordered it (although I, like many others, was hesitant to purchase another book on the often exhausted topic of the holocaust). I'm 75 pages in and I'm already wishing I hadn't made the purchase. The author's style of writing strikes me as being contrived, disingenuous and unoriginal. I don't think the narrator - death - is all that clever. I just finished "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers and switching from her work to this is almost painful. It's simply not good writing (and I don't think if I were to continue reading it would improve). Perhaps if I were sixteen and reading this I might give the author more credit. But as an adult whose read a substantial amount of great works by great writers, I can't continue on with this one.Book Review: A "must-read" book
Summary: 5 Stars
My heart is sore and swollen after reading this book. In fact, it's been wrung dry. I believe you get a finite number of books like these in your lifetime, so they need to be savored and exhalted. This book shows us the best and worst of humanity and somehow leaves us with hope.
Here are a few things, among many, that I loved about this book. First, it takes a look at Nazi Germany from the perspective of "ordinary" Germans. It is so easily to villify Nazi Germany and project universal condemnation, but this story shows how many Germans became both victims and heroes. Second, the story is a love letter to books and the power of words. Any booklover recognizes the force that words play in our lives, and this book looks at that from the perspective of a girl who goes from no words to reading them and writing them and healing others in the process. Finally, the characters -- all of them -- are original and unforgettable. I had to keep reminding myself that these weren't real people, for they touched me as surely and deeply as many actual people I have known.
If I have one complaint about the book, it's that there was too much foreshadowing for my taste. Reflecting on the book, I realize that there was a lot of happiness in it, but you were always stopped short from fully appreciating or relaxing into it because of the sense of foreboding around the next corner.
A small complaint in the grand scheme of a grand story. Read it. You will not be disappointed.
Book Review: A Beautiful Story
Summary: 5 Stars
It's a beautifully written story, with thoughtful, memorable characters and images that will stay with me. One of the most touching is the image of Death cradling the souls of the dead as he carries them away. What a fresh perspective on a sad time in history. It's a story for both young and old that I look forward to reading again.