The Book Thief in The Wide Web of Friends in YA Books

May 28, 2013 Rachel (APCB Reviews) rated it really liked it

Shelves: crying-books, 2013-standout

The story is set during World War II in a small town near Munich, Molching. From the narrator's point of view, we read the story of a foster girl, Liesel Meminger who can't resist stealing her obsession- books. The Book Thief follows the life of Liesel and all the encounters that she has while growing up in Nazi Germany.

Put simply, The Book Thief is a masterpiece. Every aspect of this book is fantastic and intriguing. There is never a dull moment. I love that the book is narrated by Death. He te ...more

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Dec 23, 2013 Carolina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, cry-worthy-books, on-my-shelf

“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”

I finished this book a week ago and only now I’ve gained the courage to write something about it. My review can’t ever do this book justice, but I’m stubborn so why not.
I can’t describe the feelings this book caused me. Maybe because I’ve never felt them before? Or maybe I did, but not so intensely. The writing was just amazing and beautiful and you can’t help but get sucked in by Zusak’s words. I think making Death th “I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”

I finished this book a week ago and only now I’ve gained the courage to write something about it. My review can’t ever do this book justice, but I’m stubborn so why not.
I can’t describe the feelings this book caused me. Maybe because I’ve never felt them before? Or maybe I did, but not so intensely. The writing was just amazing and beautiful and you can’t help but get sucked in by Zusak’s words. I think making Death the narrator was a bold move and I LOVED it.

“A book floated down the Amper River.
A boy jumped in, caught up to it, and held
it in his right hand. He grinned. He stood
waist-deep in the icy, Decemberish water.
“How about a kiss, Saumensch?” he said.”

“He does something to me, that boy. Every time. It’s his only detriment. He steps on my heart. He makes me cry.”

I read this super slowly, not because I didn’t had the time, but simply because I wanted this book to last, I wanted to absorb the power and the magic of Zusak’s words.

Outside thought: *I don’t know why but there was this moment that stood out form the rest of the book. I think it was this moment that made “The Book Thief” what it is for me, it was this moment when I definitely knew this was going to be one of my favorite books. I was doomed while reading it and I just said that's it, this is the most heartbreaking and beautiful thing I’ve ever read:

(view spoiler)

All the strength I had broke down in the last chapters. I couldn’t take it anymore, and I cried and sobbed for Liesel, for Rudy, Max, Hans and Rosa, even for Death. I cried for all the people in the world that ever felt like one of the characters in this book, for everyone that ever experienced something like that. Because yes, it is a book; but this happened. There were several Liesels, Rudys and Maxes in this world, during World War II, during any war, and I weeped for them. I can’t even begin to imagine what anyone during that time felt, friend or foe, but I feel for them.

And I want to thank Markus Zusak for writing “The Book Thief” because it made me feel. Definitely a new favorite. There aren’t enough stars for this book. ...more

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Jun 05, 2013 Kristen Taber rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, beautiful-books, favorites

Rarely does a story grab me like this. I am steeped in emotion and enrobed in questions I cannot begin to decipher answers for---the greatest of these starts and ends with the true bounds and binds of our humanity and the darkest depths of our monstrosity. This book will take some time to truly process before I can write a review, but rest assured, I will. It will haunt me until I do and, I suspect, for some time after.

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Oct 31, 2013 Silvia Meadows rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow... just wow. This book was wonderful, amazing, funny, sad, hopeful, etc. etc.

Words will not do justice. I cried. I definitely had the feels and it was all worth it. Boy..... I can't produce a complete sentence. I savored every single chapter, paragraph, sentence, and word. I absolutely loved this wonderfully, written book. ...more

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