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The Book Thief

Markus Zusak

Start date: December 1, 2013

Finish date: December 31, 2013

Discussion: Book/Genre of the Month

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What Members Thought

Jul 19, 2014 Hajarath Prasad Abburu rated it really liked it

Shelves: buddy-read-with-ini

These are some of the things I felt while reading the book.
1. Don't you think the book is a little two slow and needed a better pair of scissors?

2. Death as a narrator is a bit too unsettling for me.

3. The title Book Thief is a bit too overwhelming and a bit 'extra' for all the thievery the protagonist does.

4. I can't understand why the narrator keeps throwing spoilers in our face.

I thought/felt all these things while reading the book, but as I began the downhill journey, all my grouses van These are some of the things I felt while reading the book.
1. Don't you think the book is a little two slow and needed a better pair of scissors?

2. Death as a narrator is a bit too unsettling for me.

3. The title Book Thief is a bit too overwhelming and a bit 'extra' for all the thievery the protagonist does.

4. I can't understand why the narrator keeps throwing spoilers in our face.

I thought/felt all these things while reading the book, but as I began the downhill journey, all my grouses vanished into thin air. How wrong I was!

The book is not slow and at the end I couldn't point out a single subplot or even less a single scene that's unnecessary.

One of the biggest takeaway from this book is the narration. I don't know why, I couldn't proceed beyond the prologue. After reading the prologue for the fifth time and being assured that it gets better (by my friends), I pushed myself in. And what a narrator Death turned out to be! I loved his narration and I even empathized with him about his boss experience :P

I still don't know why, but I feel the title Book Thief is completely justified and I couldn't think of a better title than it.

And my biggest grouse, the spoilers!! Just what Markus Zusak wanted to achieve by giving away spoilers, I couldn't fathom. But as the story progressed, I realized the trick! It prepared the readers for what is ensuing and it and also made Death a much more relatable and amiable narrator.

Liesel Meminger, Hans Hubermann, Frau Holtzapfel, Rosa Hubermann, Rudy Steiner, Arthur Berg, Max Wandenburg, and many more.. I loved you all! All your characters are so memorable and will live in my heart for long!
P. S : When I saw Inglorious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino, I couldn't relate to the ending. I hated Hitler, but somehow I couldn't relate with the idea of killing Hitler for his crimes. But now, I wish I have a gun to point and Fuhrer's skull to be pointed to.

Dear Markus Zusak, thank you for an unforgettable piece of art and looking forward to read many more from you! Thanks and see you soon!! ...more

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Mar 03, 2014 Lauren Smith rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourites

Hauntingly beautiful. I was thoroughly engrossed from the first sentence until the last. I love the originality of having Death as the narrator and the beauty and power that lie behind the written word. I can tell that this story will stay with me.

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