The Book Thief in Diversity in All Forms!

Jun 17, 2014 Ilse rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Acabo de terminar de leerlo (otra vez) y estoy a moco/lagrima tendida (honestamente no me acuerdo bien como es).
Quiero decir que esta 3ra o 4ta vez que lo leo en estos 3 años desde que lo adquirí no ah dejado de gustarme ni un tantito, de hecho, para mi es de esos libros que cuanta mas veces lo leo mas me voy encariñando con los personajes y la historia.
Y si eres una persona que no ah tenido la oportunidad de leerlo NO SE QUE ESTAS ESPERANDO!!!!!!!!!!! ya que es un libro HERRRRMOSOO, y aunque no ...more

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Jun 24, 2016 Cecily Black rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

I swear that I already reviewed this book but for some reason I can not find it!!

I spent a lot of time when I was in Junior High and High School reading books about WWII and the devastation that was caused. There was a point I got in my "reading career" that I needed to stay away from this subject matter for a while because it was just too hard to read about over and over, and what happened often reiterated in all these different novels so it took me a long time to read this book even though I ...more

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Jan 18, 2014 Toni FGMAMTC rated it it was amazing

I love this book. It made me so emotional. And not just for the reasons one would assume since it deals with the period during WWII when the Jews were treated so horribly. I loved it so much because of the understated relationships. Rosa Hubermann (Mama) seems so mean, but she's a softy at heart. Max Vandenburg, a Jewish man, goes through hell and should be broken, but because of all the little nothings that equal big somethings that Liesel Meminger does his spirt is fed. The relationship betwee ...more

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May 12, 2014 Toni FGMAMTC rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: top-must-reads-in-your-lifetime

I love this book. It made me so emotional. And not just for the reasons one would assume since it deals with the period during WWII when the Jews were treated so horribly. I loved it so much because of the understated relationships. Rosa Hubermann (Mama) seems so mean, but she's a softy at heart. Max Vandenburg, a Jewish man, goes through hell and should be broken, but because of all the little nothings that equal big somethings that Liesel Meminger does his spirt is fed. The relationship betwee ...more

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Feb 03, 2014 Yuan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, 2014-reads, ugliness-of-real-life, 2014-favourites, historical, literary

For more reviews, visit my blog Obsessive Compulsive Reader

Having heard so many glowing review from fellow book bloggers, booktubers and just book lovers in general, I knew going into this book that this will be amazing. I guess, in a way, that's what made me hesitant to start this novel. After all, what if this book doesn't live up to all the hype?

Let me reassure you, this one does. It totally does. It even exceeds all my expectations.

With Death as its narrator, you know The Book Thief is go For more reviews, visit my blog Obsessive Compulsive Reader

Having heard so many glowing review from fellow book bloggers, booktubers and just book lovers in general, I knew going into this book that this will be amazing. I guess, in a way, that's what made me hesitant to start this novel. After all, what if this book doesn't live up to all the hype?

Let me reassure you, this one does. It totally does. It even exceeds all my expectations.

With Death as its narrator, you know The Book Thief is going to be quite an unusual book. And it is. Nothing is told in chronological order. There is a heavy sense of foreshadowing of what is to come. And it is a story set in World War II - yet it's not about all the action and drama of the battles (though there is some elements of that) nor is it about the struggles of the Jewish (though there is some elements of that too). Instead, it is a tale of a young German girl growing up with a love of books and it is through her eyes, with the voice of Death, that you the reader experiences the daily lives that German citizens lived through.

If you go into this book expecting plenty of action and drama, you will be sadly disappointed. Yet at the same time, there is a lot more to the book than the daily lives of the residents of Himmel Street. Several strands of stories are woven together into a bigger tale and there are many spots where you have all the pieces of the puzzle but it takes a further couple of chapters before you see the full picture.

Another highlight of this book is its language. A quick glance through the reviews on Goodreads shows that most of them have listed some amazing quotes from this book. There are so many simple yet profound statements dotted throughout the book that leave you with a sense of wonderment as if you have suddenly realized - of course, why did I think of that? I wish I had kept track of all of my favourite quotes on my first read-through but I know I'll soon return to this book with plenty of post-it notes for a re-read. The following one still haunts me -

[On the topic of Jews on their death march to another concentration camp]

The suffering faces of depleted men and women reached across to them, pleading not so much for help - they were beyond that - but for an explanation. Just something to subdue this confusion.

This is an amazing book, definitely one of this year's favourites and it has even earned itself a spot on my all-time favourites shelf. Had I read it in one go, I definitely would have been moved to tears. Unfortunately, due to work, I read it in fragments and had time in between to absorb some of the shock. Even then, there were a couple of moments where I came close to tears. I'll definitely be heading back for a re-read soon and putting a lot of post-it notes in to mark my favourite spots.

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Oct 19, 2014 Caitlin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Read my full review here.

I’ve been hearing nothing but wonderful things about this novel for awhile. Book bloggers seem to rave about this book. So, I figured I better request it at my local library. When the library finally called to say it was my turn, I was glad. Now it was my turn to delve into the emotional and moving story Zusak had written.

The Book Thief certainly has a unique narrative style. I can’t say I’ve heard of other novels being told from the point of view of Death, but it really Read my full review here.

I’ve been hearing nothing but wonderful things about this novel for awhile. Book bloggers seem to rave about this book. So, I figured I better request it at my local library. When the library finally called to say it was my turn, I was glad. Now it was my turn to delve into the emotional and moving story Zusak had written.

The Book Thief certainly has a unique narrative style. I can’t say I’ve heard of other novels being told from the point of view of Death, but it really seemed to add so much depth to the novel. Aside from that, the novel isn’t told chronologically, exactly. Yet the way in which the story is told is powerful. The narrative made the story seem personal to readers, since it’s rather like a conversation or a letter from Death to whomever reads the book. In a way, it grabs the reader and won’t let go.

Zusak is truly talented when it comes to weaving together words to create impact. His metaphors, similes, imagery, personification and foreshadowing all make the book that much more poignant. The descriptions can often be abstract, but in the best of ways. It felt like I was reading a carefully crafted piece of art.

The characters of the novel are everything. Liesel’s story isn’t just about the most momentous four years of her young life, it's also about the lives she touched and which touched hers. She doesn’t understand why things are the way they are in Germany, why her mother left, etc. She’s left without family until she makes a new one with Hans and Rosa, with Max, with Rudy. Max is one of my favourite characters in the book. I would read a whole book about him. Rudy, too, is a wonderful character. The relationship between Liesel and Rudy is beautiful to read. I’m glad the narrative focused on Rudy, too, outside of his interactions with Liesel. The lives of these characters, even the more minor characters, were such a wonder to read. I felt for, and with, them all.

The interactions between characters allowed for comedy to be woven into the story. A reprieve from the otherwise serious and tragic subject matter. Some of the comedy was subtle, other times it was jokes delivered through dialogue. Sometimes it was also delivered by Death’s thoughts and observations. But the comedy had me smiling.

Something that really impacted me is the importance of words and stories in this book. The Book Thief is incredibly meta-fictive and it’s so lovely to read a story about the power of words and stories. Books are important. Words can save people. And isn’t that part of the reason why people are drawn to writing and reading in the first place?

I could go on and on about this book, but then this review would be incredibly long. Instead, I’ll just say this: it was a reading experience I’ll never forget, and the story will stay with me forever.

Overall, The Book Thief is a wonderfully, beautifully written novel about people struggling to live in a dangerous and difficult time in history. And that summary doesn't do the story justice. ...more

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