Zusak Markus - The Book Thief ("Informal Buddy Read") revisit - Start Date Sept 20 2013; Jan 2017

[Sarah]

I am on page 150 now but GONNA READ now

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I read this years ago, but I think you have all encouraged me to do a re-read before the movie (and I'm hating my RL book club book! So,yes, I'm avoiding it)

So I'm starting this tonight :)

[Nicole]

Awesome! I just got home from a party, so me too!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

:D
Ok I'm 10% in about to start the chapter "The Jesse Owens Incident"
I am slowly remembering the small things about this book as I go. Rosa is a crack-up with all those "Saukerl"s! And as was said previously, the way this book is written is so unique considering the setting. It does kind of dampen the emotion of the horrendous acts happening at the time (like the street with the yellow stars they just discovered was thrown into the story but not the focus of it). At the moment it is just a story about a girl narrated by death. What could go wrong?!

[Lisarenee]

******BEWARE SPOILERS FOR THE ENDING*****
*****DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED*****

These were my thoughts after reading The Book Thief:

So I loved the book. I liked that the most unlikely person to survive, Max, actually did and found Liesel. I like how the book showed how war doesn't just devastate one group of individuals, but all. Of how nightmares are a part and it's not pretty. I liked the interaction of the characters and how you eventually come to know them. I like how Liesel had to deal with her own misconceptions about Frau Herman, the mayors wife. I liked how it showed that not everyone who was on the wrong side of a war was bad or in agreement with what took place. I also loved how the author made Death the narrator. I thought it was a nice touch. I loved the touches of humor thrown in here and there - the Jesse Owens incident and Liesel beating up the boys(had to giggle at both of those). Liked how the relationships between Liesel and Rudy, Liesel and Pappa, and Liesel and Max progressed and how by the end even Mamma was likeable. I also enjoyed the stories that Max wrote. I liked how the author added touches of things that actually happened such as book burning, the youth camps, the mention of the attempt to build the superior race, the way the Jews were treated and the people who helped them even in the smallest way were treated, etc. I do wish they had made it crystal clear as to whether or not Liesel and Max ended up married, although I expect it since Liesel ended up in Sydney.

This is one of those books that should probably be read at least a couple of times to get the full impact. The first time you read it you are overcome with all the emotions that it brings to the surface. I'm guessing the second time you see more of the underlying meanings/messages that are intertwined within. I don't think I realized the depth to which books really did save Liesel when I first read it.

[Sarah]

I find this book very touching and love the characters. I really like Hans so far.
" "If we gamble on a Jew," said Papa soon after, "I would prefer to gamble on a live one," and from that moment a new routine was born." pg. 215

[Logan]

@Lisarenee

(view spoiler)[

I didn't even think of the Max and Liesel marriage. Was he from Australia? I must have missed that. I pictured him as so much older than her!

(hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

I know this book is written in a cold manner do to the storytelling of the narrator. But I like it. The narrator is death - so I think it is very fitting and the story being told in such a straight forward way, almost objectively, let's the reader find within themselves the emotions of the cold hard truth without being led there, but with what you find within yourself because of what you believe to be right and wrong. It is still a very powerful way to tell the story. Plus, how symbolic, when Nazi Germany was predicated on a cold heart. It required a stunting of emotion and feeling toward fellow humans z I mean a genocide was taking place. How cold is that?

[Nicole]

Oh, why did no one mention this was written in first person??

Ok, so I'm starting this now.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

@Lisarenee - I like your summation. It is interesting re-reading it ; I am just as drawn to the story and the characters, but it kind of adds something knowing the end

@Logan - (view spoiler)[He is 24 and she is 11 at the moment, so it is a significant age difference, but I guess is not that important once people are much older. I don't remember the marriage either. I guess I'll remember as I go! (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

43% ; the end of part 4

I love how the simple childhood stories have been the focus of the book despite the time and place ; How they steal fruit and buy candy with all that money despite what that money could've done for the family!

Her father is just the best guy, isn't he? As heartbreaking as the story of her parents is, she really got lucky with the house she was shipped to.

The introduction of Max and his apologetic nature for who he is - so sad. I love the booklet he does. I think that remains my favourite part of this book

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Sarah wrote: "let's the reader find within themselves the emotions of the cold hard truth without being led there, but with what you find within yourself because of what you believe to be right and wrong...."

Such a good point. And he even manages to throw in humour there too.

[Sarah]

There are just so many touching moments in this book. I love so many of the characters - Death, the book theif, Jesse Owens, and Mama and Papa, and the Mayor's wife. I am only half way. Gonna put the book on hold for awhile though. Got other books I am trying to get through. This is what happens when you overwhelm yourself with too many buddy reads and team challenges and BOTM reads. I am in the middle of three books and gonna add some more.

[Sarah]

Karen wrote: "43% ; the end of part 4

I love how the simple childhood stories have been the focus of the book despite the time and place ; How they steal fruit and buy candy with all that money despite what tha..."

Karen - I loved the booklet Max made. That was brilliant how you could see the writing of Hitler's book under the pictures and writing of the story he wrote.

[Anima]

I loved this concept as well, and this booklet reminds me of such books as The Little Prince & Letter to a Hostage or other titles where you read the story differently depending on the age you are.

[Nicole]

Possibly around 10% thru myself now. This quote absolutely slayed me: "Not-leaving: An act of trust and love, often deciphered by children."

Yes, I already love her foster faster.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Yes, Sarah that was so clever and gave it an "authenticity"

I haven't read that Anima, but I found this series Once was great in that way. Written for kids, but still moving and important for adults

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

That it a great quote Nicole :)

[Sarah]

Oh I have so many quotes in here I loved - gotta go find one now. Be back in a moment.

I remember that quote Nicole - I loved that too.

[Nicole]

I just love every time there's one of those interjections in the middle of the pages with a different font. They're so often profound. I hope that they continue the whole way through.

[Anima]

Karen, thanks for the recommendation, I've marked as to-be-read, sounds very interesting.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

No probs Anima. I'd be interested in your thoughts as it is based in Poland. If you can get the audio it is read by the author which I always love it when that happens. Also the series order is really book 1,2,4 and then 3. Seems weird I know, but I think he decided to write book 3 way in the future and only afterwards decided to do book 4 which chronologically starts at the end of book 2. (Sorry if that's confusing!!)

[Lisarenee]

Logan wrote: "@Lisarenee



I didn't even think of the Max and Liesel marriage. Was he from Australia? I must have missed that. I pictured him as so much older than her!

"

Logan & Karen, (view spoiler)[At the end of the book, I believe--it's been years since I've read it, you find out that Liesel ends up in Australia. That was where Max was going and since reading the book I found out there was a fairly good amount of Jews who relocated to Australia after the war. Since Liesel was all alone with no living family members, I couldn't help but wonder if she went to be with Max. I'm not the only one whose speculated about this. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

"But Rudy Steiner couldn't resist smiling. In years to come he would be a giver of bread, not a stealer - proof again of the contradictory human being. So much good, so much evil. Just add water." Page 104

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

:D I highlighted that one too

[Nicole]

Ooh, beautiful. I'm almost up to that, actually. Got to page 90 last night before falling asleep.

[Nicole]

I'm really glad to have finished Part Two and be onto Part Three. Did anyone else notice that Death seemed further away in the narration of the whole of Part Two? It made an enormous difference to my enjoyment of the section. Thankfully, Part Three has already shown our narrator hovering close by once more.

[Sarah]

Nicole wrote: "I'm really glad to have finished Part Two and be onto Part Three. Did anyone else notice that Death seemed further away in the narration of the whole of Part Two? It made an enormous difference to ..."

It is probably because more death in part three, as the numbers are increasing - the war has started.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Yes I noticed that too Nicole. It tricked me into thinking this was a "normal" historical fiction book and then Death is back at you again! I quite like how the author did that

[Nicole]

I actually didn't like Part Two because of his absence. It all felt too "real", too much like other WW2 books. Like others in this BR, I'm not so much a fan of those kinds of books.
Even though the war has started in Part Three, Death's presence in the narrative mutes it enough.

It makes me think, though, about how this will all be portrayed in the movie. Point of view is so different in books vs movies. I wonder will they go the standard male sounding voice over for Death, or something more interesting?

[Logan]

I was wondering that too. I thought maybe they wouldn't use a voiceover at all.

[Anima]

Nicole wrote: "I actually didn't like Part Two because of his absence. It all felt too "real", too much like other WW2 books. Like others in this BR, I'm not so much a fan of those kinds of books.
Even though th..."

I also prefered the parts with distinct Death's narration. I have my doubts about the film in that matter. I'm afraid that the film will lack a lot due to the difficulty with making up for this type of narration. Still, I'm very interested in the film to see how they dealt with this issue :)

[Anima]

Maybe we can transfer this read into the type "read the book and watch the movie" :)?

[Rebecca]

Lisarenee said "This is one of those books that should probably be read at least a couple of times to get the full impact....

I completely agree! I read this book a while ago and I remember that I loved it so much when I finished and was really emotional about it for a while. Now I find myself struggling to remember much other than the characters and basic plot. I think I need to go back and re-read this book, while knowing the ending, so I can appreciate the underlying text more.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Sounds good Anima! I'm so intrigued by the movie version for the reasons already given. I think they will still have the narrator

[Nicole]

What date does the movie come out? I guess this buddy read doesn't exactly have an end date ;)

[Nicole]

Ooh, I've just met Max for the first time. From what I've read here, he is a favourite!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Movie is released here November 15 Nicole :)

yes, Max is fantastic. I haven't read much more as the last 2 days have been pretty much non-reading days. But I will get some done tonight!

[Nicole]

Oh, I just read another quote that I have to share with everyone! Page 188:

"When I found Hans' story amongst the book thief's words, I realised that we passed each other once in a while during that period, though neither of us scheduled a meeting. Personally, I had a lot of work to do. As for Hans, I think he was doing his best to avoid me."

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Part 6 - The Snowman

I love this chapter in so many ways:
- the fun and "normality" of the snow fight, including Hans "risking his life" by throwing a snowball at Rosa
- Max's Christmas greeting
- Rosa "I didn't take this man into my house to watch him die"
- Hans saying that "it started with Adolf"
- The visitor score sheet
- Hans reassuring Liesel that she "had to" bring the snow down

Such a beautiful chapter

[Anima]

Oh, this was one of my favourite chapters in the book, Karen!

[Nicole]

Part 6! And here I was deluding myself into thinking I had done a nice speedy read to get to Part 4 ;)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Teehee!

[Sarah]

It is in these chapters where my love for Rosa grows. She started off a certain way but u can really see she loves her family and is a good person.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

So true Sarah. She is a wonderful character I love it when she goes to see Liesel at school :)

[Sarah]

I may not have gotten there yet, unless I forgot, I am past the snowman chapters when things go south but am not gonna finish until next week. I started BOTM read and gotta read in like two days for the challenge - and your going down. GO PEWTER BLUE

[Nicole]

Oh I'm looking forward to seeing that character development on Rosa. Can't wait to get to that point!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Lol Sarah!!
And that bit if right after the snowman chapter.

Nicole - you're like the little engine that could :)

I just read the chapter "Death's diary - The Parisians" (still part 6) which is a bit of a reality check. I'm not sure if I felt that same jolt the first time I read this going from the ''main story" to Death's job unexpectedly when starting a new chapter. Very poetic how he describes the atrocities

[Nicole]

Oh my god, the stand over man!! This has changed my life. And how you can see Mein Kampf through the illustrations... Totally we'll done. My favourite part so far.

[Sarah]

Yes I commented on this earlier - really creative and amazing.