The Book Thief in The Not-So Austen Bookclub

Sep 10, 2013 Tessa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, kill-the-bedtime, made-me-weep, thieves, read-over-and-over-and-over, second-world-war, please-be-my-best-friend, beautiful, can-t-get-it-out-of-my-head, perfect

It is a book about words that defies words. How can such a thing be? It is so beautifully written, it resonated so deeply with the deepest, most closely guarded part of my soul, and it made me realize so many new things that I barely managed to recommend it to my sister. It's a funny thing--some books I love so much that I can't stop talking about them, while others leave me completely speechless.

Reread--November 26:
Three thoughts:
--I love the way Zusak writes about the words--they walk, crawl, ...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Emily V rated it it was amazing

What has this book done to me??

I'm an emotional mess!!

I knew it was coming but...

I still wasn't prepared!

It's both amazing and torturous! ...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Janussa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-books, historical-fiction, read-in-2012, brilliant

Here is the link to the review on my blog: http://theperksofbeingaborkworm.blogs...

Rating: 4.5

Review: This book is different from almost any other book I have ever read. It seems like a book I would read for school. It took me five or six days to read the whole book which is longer than it takes me for most books. I think it is a deeper book that needs to be thought about. It's not just a light book that people would read that would make people super happy and cheerful. This book is narrated by ...more

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Jul 01, 2013 Rams rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, brilliant-storytelling, so-beautiful, best-book-ever

Oh my… The Book Thief was brilliant. It was beautiful and tragic all at once. Boy, the emotional impact of this book to me was so great. It made me smile, laugh, love, and cry. Also, the narrating was unique and captivating. Of course, it was Death after all. Death telling the story of a young girl named Liesel Meminger who lived to be, yes, the book thief during the time of Adolf Hitler. Her story started when she was ten. Her brother dying on the train on their way to be dropped off to their Oh my… The Book Thief was brilliant. It was beautiful and tragic all at once. Boy, the emotional impact of this book to me was so great. It made me smile, laugh, love, and cry. Also, the narrating was unique and captivating. Of course, it was Death after all. Death telling the story of a young girl named Liesel Meminger who lived to be, yes, the book thief during the time of Adolf Hitler. Her story started when she was ten. Her brother dying on the train on their way to be dropped off to their foster parents. Them burying her brother in the snow and her first stolen book. Her mother leaving her to the Hubermmanns. And there, the wonderful and hard life of the book thief begins…

I loved this book so much and it was compelling. Although I’ve got to say, I was mostly anxious too because I kept imagining the scenario how some certain characters would die. True, because like in the middle of the book, Death confirmed someone would be dead. Someone I already loved so you see my frustration about that but at the same time, I was thankful because I was prepared, you know? I would’ve bawled my eyes out otherwise.

I love books that make me love its characters and imagine them as real people and The Book Thief was one of them. Liesel was a wonderful character and a very strong one for someone so young. I admired her determination to learn how to read and how she gave importance to even such small things. She could make something out of something that appeared useless. Hans Hubermann and his kindness and the real love he gave Liesel. Rosa Hubermann, who was a really loving person, despite her tendency to “verbally abuse” someone to oblivion. She’s quite lovely, that woman. Rudy Steiner, this amazing boy who stole my heart and made me smile. Even the self-punishing mayor’s wife, Ilsa Hermann, who was kind enough to take Liesel’s harsh words and let pass the book thieving. And Max Vanderburg… boy, my heart broke for him. But the connection between him and Liesel was beautiful… they were sort of each other’s strength. It was beautiful and it was sad.

All in all, one of the best books ever. Love. Family. Friendship. A little bit of romance. Perfect ingredients for my new favorite book.

“Mama, I know that you… I liked when you came to school and told me Max had woken up. Did you know I saw you with Papa’s accordion? I came and watched and you were beautiful. Goddamnit, you were so beautiful, Mama.”

“Papa – the accordionist – and Himmel Street. One could not exist without the other, because for Liesel, both were home. Yes, that’s what Hans Hubermann was for Liesel Meminger.”

“I watched the contents of his soul for a moment and saw a black-painted boy calling the name Jesse Owens as he ran through an imaginary tape. I saw him deep-in some icy water, chasing a book, and I saw a boy lying in bed, imagining how a taste would taste from his glorious next-door neighbor. He does something to me, that boy. He steps on my heart. He makes me cry. ”
...more

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Dec 20, 2013 Vipula rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: my-favs, owned-books

One of the best books I have ever read. This story made me laugh and cry. It made me feel all the good things. The story is narrated by DEATH so this is one must read for all. Read and enjoy the world of Nazi Germany as seen through the eyes of Death itself.

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