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

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What Members Thought

Aug 23, 2018 Jess Penhallow rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018-chunky-books, germany, 1940s

What a beautiful book. I never thought that something written so simply could make me cry like this book did! Wonderful characters a plot that was simple but never boring and a constant theme of hope and love in one of the darkest periods of history. Sometimes you just need to read something that is a little saccharine but with a lot of heart and this was perfect.

40 likes · Like · see review

Mar 08, 2015 Nina rated it really liked it

impressive story. I gave one star less because of how death is depicted as a character. It seems we are supposed to have sympathy with him. I couldn't

But to be fair, some friends of mine loved the book more because of the way death is shown. ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

Dec 30, 2014 Shay rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed, holly, 2015, frankie, my-precious

One thing that I absolutely loved about this was the fact that Death was the narrator. Such an interesting view to take on events like these. This book follows the story of Liesel. A lovely young thing who unfortunately is in a foster family and loves books. If the title doesn't give away a huge plot point then I don't know what will. Literally she steals books. I don't want to go off on a tangent explaining the story because I feel it's something you need to explore for yourself. I love this bo ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Jan 20, 2016 Stay Fetters rated it really liked it

Two weeks to change the world, fourteen days to ruin it.

Nazi Germany hides Liesel and Death is here to relay her emotional story.
You fall instantly in love with Liesel and wish to hear all of her story, from start to heart breaking finish. And your emotions, you won't be able to hide. Reads like a raw memior that you're not likely to forget.

"You see? Even Death has a heart" ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Aug 10, 2015 Diana Long rated it it was amazing

Shelves: pbs-great-american-reads-2018

I don't know how this work ended up as a YA book as I thought it a deeply absorbing and poignant novel for all adult ages. The narrator of the story is none other than death and the main theme of the story for me was the power of “words”. The word can inspire and delight and also it is the most powerful weapon that can be wielded by humans. The characters are well developed and death has a bit of irony thrown in his narration at certain times. The book thief is a young girl and it's her story an ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 17, 2015 Ellie Wilson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourite-books-ever, wwii-fiction

It has been months since I first read this book, and I am only just beginning to write the review it deserves. Some books deserve the best possible review that you can write, and some books you simply have no idea what to write in a review: this is one of those rare books that possesses both of these factors. Please don't expect his review to be perfect; it won't be. However, I shall try to do "The Book Thief" justice in whatever way I can as I write this. Please be patient.

Where to begin? I fir It has been months since I first read this book, and I am only just beginning to write the review it deserves. Some books deserve the best possible review that you can write, and some books you simply have no idea what to write in a review: this is one of those rare books that possesses both of these factors. Please don't expect his review to be perfect; it won't be. However, I shall try to do "The Book Thief" justice in whatever way I can as I write this. Please be patient.

Where to begin? I first read this book as summer was drawing to a close. The days were somehow lighter and darker at the same time: days of pure bliss and relaxing were still taking place, and yet the warm, carefree season was drawing to a close.

I had wanted to read "The Book Thief" for quite some time. As I stumbled across bookshops, I always saw the cover of a girl reading a book, and however much I wished to purchase it, I couldn't quite bring myself to. It seemed that I was waiting for something.

It was in the last week of my summer holidays that I saw "The Book Thief" once last time. It was displayed on a shelf, in a position of honour. I already had one book in my hand that I was hurrying to buy, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower". But for a moment I ceased hurrying, and I picked "The Book Thief" up. I stared at it for quite some time. Then I continued to hurry to the counter, with two books in my hands now instead of one.

As I was placing the two books onto the counter, the lady behind picked up "The Book Thief" and stared at it for just a moment. "This is a really good choice," she said.

She was right.

I finished the book within a matter of days.

It is exceptionally difficult to find a book that has you laughing and crying hysterically at the exact same moment. It is also hard to find a book that contains characters so vivid they are practically jumping off the page. It is near impossible to find a book whose words you remember long after you have turned the final page.

I shall not say much about the book, except that it looks as humans as we really are: bare and stripped down to nothing except our own devices. It looks at the effect words can have on us in all situations. It shows us words of its own.

As I said before, any review of this book really can't do it justice. I won't say anymore about it, because I can't. But I will say this: you as a reader, will probably have read many many books. Out of those many, many books, I am sure there is one that stands out and speaks to you as a human being. I will just tell you this: This book spoke to me. ...more

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Nov 12, 2016 Anniken Haga rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, classics, 2016

I both hate and love this book.

The way it is written, is something I normally wouldn't like.
I don't like to read books told in a God-like POV. They are often abit flatt, with little charactergrowth, and I don't like the hints of whats going to happen in the future.
But in this case, it was OK.
Probably because I knew it was told by Death.

Another thing I don't really like in a book, is symbolism and metaphores.
They are OK a few times, but to much of them, and it makes the language heavy.
This ...more

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