From the Bookshelf of Diversity in All Forms!…

The Book Thief

Markus Zusak

Start date: August 2, 2019

Finish date: August 30, 2019

Discussion: Monthly Bonus Reads

Why we're reading this: August Bonus Read- National Book Lovers Day

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
[close] August Bonus Read- National Book Lovers Day

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 73 topics — 889 comments total

Monthly Bonus Reads

The Autobiography of Malcolm X (February 2023)
By Mariah Roze · 2 posts · 18 views

last updated May 17, 2023 10:35AM

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide (March 2023)
By Mariah Roze · 2 posts · 11 views

last updated Mar 06, 2023 08:42AM

showing 1 of 1 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Nov 29, 2014 Sandra (LadyGrey Reads) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017-2018-reads, worth-re-reading, 5-star-favorites, recs, audio-books, 2017-top-ten, 2017-book-of-the-month

“I am haunted by humans.”

description

That gif is an accurate representation of how I felt when I finished this. It didn't matter how prepared I felt I was for that ending - it still broke my heart.

The story is a very slow build. In a way, it is an accurate representation of life. It isn't always fast. But as war closes in around the main characters and their town things start to change. There's suspicion and distancing, love and grief, and they're all viewed and told to the reader from Death's POV - who lea ...more

25 likes · Like · see review

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

8 likes · Like · see review

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

3 likes · Like · see review

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

Like · see review