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The Book Thief

Markus Zusak

Start date: April 1, 2013

Finish date: April 30, 2013

Discussion: Past Reads

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Past Reads

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The Fault in Our Stars
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What Members Thought

Dec 29, 2011 Mr. Twinkie rated it really liked it

A bit overrated but it was still an enjoyable reading thanks to Hans Huberman and the book's angling on the power of words.
The main idea of this book is not so much a celebration of life or whether germans were nice people during World War 2 as much as it is about the power of words. Words shapes meaning and I think this book does a great job for conveying and angling the discussion of how words can affect people. Everything from Liesel's pursue of learning to read and master words, through the A bit overrated but it was still an enjoyable reading thanks to Hans Huberman and the book's angling on the power of words.
The main idea of this book is not so much a celebration of life or whether germans were nice people during World War 2 as much as it is about the power of words. Words shapes meaning and I think this book does a great job for conveying and angling the discussion of how words can affect people. Everything from Liesel's pursue of learning to read and master words, through the cursing by the characters, to the shorter passages that mixes words and pictures. It is not perfect but Zusak does try to deal with it and I can appreciate a man who tries. However, I just lacked a more interesting discussion of other ideas that Zusak touches upon. Especially about hiding jews in the middle of Nazi-germany. Why isn't there any time where they really discuss the danger of hiding a jew? It is implicated that it is very dangerous but it is never discussed why they weight the goodness of their hearts higher than the dangers. Frankly, hiding a jew was a clearcut way to imprisonment and potentially a concentration camp. Although I can understand Hans Huberman's reason for hinding Max we just don't get much information on Rosa Huberman's motivation for supporting the hiding of him. Instead she just follows what the plot dictates, which I think is disappointing. The nazis in the story are equally superficially portraited and just doesn't have much of a characterization other than being brutal and evil. I do understand that not all the germans supported nazism. Far from it. But if we have to be honest it is not that interesting to try to understand people we can already identify ourselves with as much as trying to understand people who we think are completely nuts. Then there is Death as the narrator and as far as it sounds interesting to do it also has limitations. Especially if you make him a character with feelings and emotions. If this happens questions are going to be asked. Like: What is your motivation for doing your job? Why are you not telling us about what happens after we are dead? How long have you existed? Why is Liesel's story being told and not other people's? How can you be everywhere at the same time while observing so many details of Liesel's life? Are there life on other planets you take to? Do you also take dogs, cats, rabbits, whales and bacteria? I mean, it seems silly but think about about it, if you are going to make Death the narrator during World War II questions you are also turning him into a real character. And so you have to deal with him as he was a real character in the story. As a narrator it is also problematic if you start giving clear hints to how the story ends which Death is doing a lot in this story. Why can't he just tell the story instead of pointing out that this person and this person will die soon but that is not where we are now...seriously, use: "SPOILER ALERT".
In the end it was also a bit too long in comparison to how much it actually dealt with its main idea. At times it actually dragged and with the constant reminders of how tragically they will all die you actually get tired. But even with all these problems I still think it was an enjoyable novel. I liked the focus on the power of words and there were angles on it that were interesting. And I loved the character of Hans Huberman which I thought was the strongest and most interesting character in the book. So it just reach a four star which is quite good, but honestly, I think it is closer to three than five. ...more

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Jul 01, 2012 QuietIdea rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction, favorites, young-adult, books-with-adaptations

Death has a story to tell about something that happened in 1939 Nazi Germany. A story about newly orphaned Liesel Meminger and her new foster parents Hans and Rosa Hubermann. A story about Rudy Steiner, the boy who wants to steal a kiss from her, and Max Vandenburg, the Jew who lives in her basement.

This is one of those books that exceeds expectations by such a degree, I'm left awestruck. This is not what I expected from a book labeled YA. The language in this book is simple yes, which I suppose Death has a story to tell about something that happened in 1939 Nazi Germany. A story about newly orphaned Liesel Meminger and her new foster parents Hans and Rosa Hubermann. A story about Rudy Steiner, the boy who wants to steal a kiss from her, and Max Vandenburg, the Jew who lives in her basement.

This is one of those books that exceeds expectations by such a degree, I'm left awestruck. This is not what I expected from a book labeled YA. The language in this book is simple yes, which I suppose is for the benefit of the Young Adult, and about a child growing up in Nazi Germany, but the story is complex enough for the Old Adult, with a pile of emotional triggers (code for I cried...a lot).

The story itself, is narrated by Death. That Death would take notice of anything besides ferrying souls between worlds, lends the haunting narrative a hopeful touch. Death takes notice of Liesel Meminger, a nine year old girl and a survivor, who's traveling with her younger brother to meet their new parents. But Liesel's brother never finishes the journey, and so Death begins to haunt Liesel Meminger's footsteps.

Illiterate little Liesel, placed in a class with students much younger than she, covets books above all other things. She takes them when no one's looking, she learns to read them in the basement with her foster father's help. There are moments of happiness for Liesel, learning to read, finding Rudy, her partner in crime, and sneaking a snowman through the house. Moments of youthful indiscretions and laughter followed by the horror of air raid sirens and bullies and starving men forcibly marched down the street. And while Liesel's fleeting moments of happiness encourage hope, Death never let's you forget how many people are dying while she's learning to read...

And that's the best and the worst part about this book. The happiness. The sadness. Liesel's a child who has already experienced too much loss, so seeing her happy is a relief followed by page-turning-anxiety in the knowledge that more pain is headed her way. And when bad things start to happen, you can't help but cry at the helplessness of it all. That at the end of the day, Liesel can only keep surviving, keep living, keep trying. That no matter what happens, Death has more to do when the humans go to war...And that He will inevitably come for everyone.

As sad as this book was, and predicted itself to be, the ending was surprising. Liesel was granted some happiness at the end and that made the pain worth suffering.

Any book that can make me feel so much is worthy of 5 stars. ...more

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Jun 29, 2011 Mandy rated it it was amazing

I just loved this story. I read this book when I worked at Barns and Noble and remember sneaking it into my department to finish it. Highly recommended!!

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