Kevin’s review of The Book Thief > Likes and Comments

Did you see the movie too?

Yes I did, Trish, but the book is WAY better than the movie!

That's what I wanted to hear. :D
Though to be fair, of most adaptations, this was one of the hardest and they did a fairly decent job.

Hmmm, the film didn't capture the raw emotions, that I'd felt with the book.
But then the mind is a powerful thing when it's given free rein.

The book had far more impact, true, but I thought they managed to devastate the audience (me) well enough.

Now I'm caught in a bind: this book has never appealled to me (too YA and sentimental), but then you cite Mrs A, and now I don't know what to think!
;)

It's not YA. I's a story about war. Sure, the MC is young but you can't compare it to YA. By the way: I wholeheartedly agree with Mrs. A and like her already! ;)

Trish, I've not read it, but was citing my assumptions as to why it was not my sort of book. However, looking at the GR page for the book itself, I see "Published March 14th 2006 by Knopf Books for Young Readers". Nevertheless, I know it's a tricky label, that readers - and writers - often disagree about.

Well, the label "YA", to me, has certain tropes it plays with. These tropes are not in this book. It was certainly meant to vring a difficult topic (WWII) to young readers which is why the protagonist is young. That alone doesn't make it what has come to be known as YA.

Cecily wrote: "Now I'm caught in a bind: this book has never appealled to me (too YA and sentimental), but then you cite Mrs A, and now I don't know what to think!
;)"

Oh, I think that on this one you might be in my camp, Cecily.
I felt that the book lacked some spite and grit, and found the quirky drawings off-putting and unnecessary.
Mrs A loved it, but it's a far cry from Birdsong, which is her favourite.

Trish wrote: "It's not YA. I's a story about war. Sure, the MC is young but you can't compare it to YA. By the way: I wholeheartedly agree with Mrs. A and like her already! ;)"

Yes, and Mrs A wholeheartedly agrees with you (she thinks that I've got it all wrong and that it is harrowing).

This is the great thing about book forums. People need to read these novels to form their own opinions.

Kevin wrote: "Yes, and Mrs A wholeheartedly agrees with you (she thinks that I've got it all wrong and that it is harrowing).
"

Can't argue with the Mrs. Shouldn't argue with the Mrs. Listen to the Mrs. ;P
Tell her I'll send a fruit basket! *lol*

Trish wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Yes, and Mrs A wholeheartedly agrees with you (she thinks that I've got it all wrong and that it is harrowing).
"

Can't argue with the Mrs. Shouldn't argue with the Mrs. Listen to th..."
: )

I'm on your side, Kevin! It didn't quite work for me either. But we're clearly the minority opinion here.

Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ wrote: "I'm on your side, Kevin! It didn't quite work for me either. But we're clearly the minority opinion here."

Thank you, Tadiana.
I applaud the author for his idiosyncratic style, but it goes without saying that there are far better novels.

I liked this book mucho but it was despite the Death personification bit, which drew a "whatever..."

Ken wrote: "I liked this book mucho but it was despite the Death personification bit, which drew a "whatever...""

I applaud the concept of Death as the narrator, Ken. This abstraction, in principal, should work.
But it was lacking in its execution; reminded me of the narrator in It's A Wonderful Life.
: )

With an average of 4.25 stars from your household, it can't be too shabby. I've seen the movie though, so I'll excuse myself from partaking in this cup of tea which is clearly does not belong to me :D

Apatt wrote: "With an average of 4.25 stars from your household, it can't be too shabby. I've seen the movie though, so I'll excuse myself from partaking in this cup of tea which is clearly does not belong to me :D"

Probably wise, Apatt.
My intuition tells me that it wouldn't be to your taste.

Read this book twice because I thought I missed the big something so many others saw in this story. Still thought it was ok but still a three star book.

Any book which is described as jejeune Kevin, automatically has the kiss of death imprinted all over it ... no pun intended. : )

Marialyce wrote: "Read this book twice because I thought I missed the big something so many others saw in this story. Still thought it was ok but still a three star book."

It had its merits, Marialyce, but (as you said in your review) it was good, not great.

Julie wrote: "Any book which is described as jejeune Kevin, automatically has the kiss of death imprinted all over it ... no pun intended. : )"

Or le baiser de la mort as us fluent French speakers would say! ; )
*pfffft!*

Mrs A's opinion is spot on and the only one that really matters.

Felicia wrote: "Mrs A's opinion is spot on and the only one that really matters."

She's almost always right, Felicia. It's really annoying! : )

Yummy review! Must be fun to disagree on a book! Do you both try to convince the other that they’re full of it, or is your discussion civilized? Or both, lol?

Debbie wrote: "Yummy review! Must be fun to disagree on a book! Do you both try to convince the other that they’re full of it, or is your discussion civilized? Or both, lol?"

We usually read entirely different books, Debbie. My wife likes dark thrillers and fat hist-fic books that would fell a rhinoceros with one swift whack.
Also, she's a harsher critic than I. Were she to inhabit Goodreads, her average rating would probably be three! : )

We're both reading Ordinary Grace (a very popular book). I'm interrupted every ten minutes by her saying, "The editor of this book needs to be shot!" : D

I am quite charmed by Mrs A, Kevin. She interests me more than this book. That said, I can always trust you for an honest review - what worked for you and what did not.

Laysee wrote: "I am quite charmed by Mrs A, Kevin. She interests me more than this book. That said, I can always trust you for an honest review - what worked for you and what did not."

Thanks, Laysee!
I'm certainly grateful for Julie's constructive feedback when she reads my first drafts. You would hoot with laughter if you could be a fly on the wall! She is forthright, but possesses such literary common sense.
I recently wrote about 'epaulettes on the shoulders' of a customs officer's shirt.
Her report came back with "Where else would epaulettes be?"
Hahaha! BRILLIANT!! : D

Kevin wrote: "You would hoot with laughter if you could be a fly on the wall! She is forthright, but possesses such literary common sense.
I recently wrote about 'epaulettes on the shoulders' of a customs officer's shirt.
Her report came back with "Where else would epaulettes be?"
Hahaha! BRILLIANT!! : D

Oh, that is brilliant indeed! I'm sure I'll be laughing at her sharp and witty critique. You have a shrewd editor in your own home. What larks!

Another fantastic review, Kevin! It's a shame the story didn't work as well for you as it did for Mrs A.
The 'epaulette incident' gave me a good laugh! 😂

Kimber wrote: "Another fantastic review, Kevin! It's a shame the story didn't work as well for you as it did for Mrs A.
The 'epaulette incident' gave me a good laugh! 😂"

Thanks, Kimber. The epaulette incident made me laugh too!! : D

Glenda wrote: "I have recently read a book that I didn't know was YA and I was really disappointed in it. I respect your opinions and will probably read this at some point in time, but it will drop off my shortlist for 2020. I keep it on my TBR list solely on Mrs. A.'s opinion. LOL...."

Thanks, Glenda!
I've also started on books that seemed promising, only to discover that they're actually aimed at young adults. : (
I felt that this was too YA for me but then I've felt that about the two Neil Gaiman books that I've read.

“Plainly written.” Better dodge Hemingway.

Sylvia wrote: "“Plainly written.” Better dodge Hemingway."

Agreed, Sylvia. Steinbeck did that kind of thing a lot better. : )

proof that books are not always the beneficial influence we customarily believe"

Ah, yes, Kevin, very true. And sparked a memory from one of my favorite comedies:

Why can't women go to the stonings, Ma?
Because it's WRITTEN!!!

Renee wrote: "proof that books are not always the beneficial influence we customarily believe"

Ah, yes, Kevin, very true. And sparked a memory from one of my favorite comedies:

Why can't women go to the stonings, Ma?
Because it's WRITTEN!!!..."

Life of Brian! Thank you for reminding me, Renee.