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The Book Thief
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Zusak Markus - The Book Thief ("Informal Buddy Read") revisit - Start Date Sept 20 2013; Jan 2017
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Nicole
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rated it 5 stars
Oct 03, 2013 06:17PM
I'm glad it wasn't just me it touched so profoundly.
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Oh good, guess I'll just put the rest down and go on to the next book ;)
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No, don't do that!
I just finished. And I loved the re-read. So glad I did it with all of you. I have gone from a 4 to a 5 star rating for this book as I think I would certainly read it again in another few years. Can't wait to see the movie version
Wow. Now some tears have been shed. And I am sure there is more to come. I can't find any humor anymore. Some things just become too atrocious. My God human history is just full of so much evil toward our own and the planet in general. Sometimes I wonder about our species - seriously. Page 416 - "On the ration cards of Nazi Germany, there was no listing for punishment, but everyone had to take their turn. For some it was death in a foreign country during the war. For others it was poverty and guilt when the war was over, when six million discoveries were made throughout Europe. Many people must have seen their punishment coming, but only a small percentage welcomed it. One such person was Hans Huberman."
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416? Ooh, that's not too far from where I am right now. Thanks for the heads up..
I totally agree, Karen, I think we should never forget what happened during WW II, but also during other wars, and sometimes, as so many witnesses of those events die every day, the books are the only means of transfering this knowledge to the next generations.Sarah, this quote is so good, it shows that in this war, everybody was a victim one way or another.
Wow, so beautifully written and so sad. It appears I have different page numbers to you,Sarah, cause I've just gotten to 416 tonight before bed and haven't seen that quote.
Oh ok, just got to Sarah's quote. Page 442 for me. Wow, humor is just gone. So horrifying. I'm kind of glad the author hasn't tried to lighten it. I love the fact that Death seems to hate and see the waste in this part of his job. That helps the narrative heaps.
I totally agree, the fact that Death is not so objective after all, that He sips some of his distaste and antagonism towards war is really comforting.
I think that people can be victims but also how we are culpable. What do people do in the face of evil. A man, Hitler, can only hold power because people are giving him that power. People are put in horrendous situations where the right choice may cost you your family or your life, or your luxury and comfort, so do you make the wrong choice to save you and yours or do you take a stand and do what is right in the face of unimaginable consequences - that is what Hans risked. People do become victims throughout history but when victims realize the power they have relinquished and rise up again in masses they regain the power to conquer.
I've just gotten up to the word shaker mini story by Max. I think it's such a good analogy for what Hitler did and how he did it.
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I definitely do see why Max is everyone's favourite character, Karen!
Part 10 and I'm stopping for a breather and something lighter.I must say, ladies, it's been a pleasure reading this book with you. I'm very glad I picked it up, just like I'm very glad I didn't have this experience alone. Thank you.
Max is not my favorite character - I loved Mama and Papa the best - especially Papa.
Now I def want to read
Sarah, I've got it at home and cannot get to it... Maybe some buddy read on that? ;)
Nicole wrote: "Part 10 and I'm stopping for a breather and something lighter.I must say, ladies, it's been a pleasure reading this book with you. I'm very glad I picked it up, just like I'm very glad I didn't h..."
Likewise!
I'm happy with doing another Zuzak read after this.
I would love to... next year. Aaaaarrrghh. I have so much scheduled till the end of the year and I can't keep up.
Next year. I'm good with that ;)
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Either month is good for me :)
Now that I have finished I finally want to take the time to comment.WOW - what an incredible and beautiful and devastating book. I am so glad I chose to read this finally. Can't wait for the movie. I hope somehow they incorporate Death into the movie and don't cut it out.
Page 535 -"The rubble just climbed higher. Concrete hills with caps of red. A beautiful, tear-stomped girl, shaking the dead."
Whatever works for me next year.
I just want to say when I meet Death I hope he finds my soul sitting up and that the sky is the best blue of the afternoon.
I'm glad that you were happy to have read it in the end, Sarah. I know you had some reservations about the whole premise early on.Truthfully, I'm not sure I'll see the movie now. The book was so good. Movies so often just spoil that.
message 131:
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Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief
(last edited Jan 08, 2017 05:33AM)
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This topic is about The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Book summary:
It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .
Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.
This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.
Yay! I'm so excited for this. I've owned this book for way too long and haven't ever gotten around to reading it.
I think we should schedule this buddy read now, setting the number of pages we can read each day and so on, so that when we'll discuss it we won't spoil the book.
Okay! What amount do you guys think would be good to read?
Do you think fifty a day would be okay? Or do you want to do more?
Heyy guys! I would like to join as well! I've also had the book thief sitting on my shelf for far too long.
50 pages a day is totally doable for me and sounds good
Thanks! and 50 pages is fine by me
When are we starting??
Is tomorrow good for everyone? (January 9?)
Yes, for me it is.
I'm good for January 9! Then post our comments the day after?
Today is cool. And posting comments tomorrow is also okay with me :)
Alright, initial thoughts for the first 50 pages. So far, I really like it. I'm not sure if I've ever read a book where death was the narrator. Interested to see how that shapes the rest of the story. I'm writing this without the book, is it implied that Death is male? That was the general idea I have after reading, but I can't remember if it was there or not. If they are male, how do you all feel about it? I know Death is traditionally portrayed as being male, but certainly feel they could be female or gender-less. Not really sure that it matters all that much, but curious what you think.
The descriptions of color and people's appearances are wonderful. I find myself becoming exasperated when authors try to reach too much for interesting descriptors, but this is juuuust the right amount where it doesn't feel too contrived or self-aware. The "living" accordion, lips like a corroded pipe, and the town hall chopped off at the knees were all delightful.
I've definitely heard a lot about this book being great and on a lot of people's favorites lists, so I'm really hopeful it lives up to the hype! So far, so good.
Katie wrote: "Alright, initial thoughts for the first 50 pages. So far, I really like it. I'm not sure if I've ever read a book where death was the narrator. Interested to see how that shapes the rest of the s..."
I also found very interesting the fact that Death tells the story, and I wonder how the setting is going to influence the storytelling. I didn't know they were mostly represented as male, I always imagined they were a woman - mainly because in Italian Death is a female noun. But I think that if the author didn't mention it (as I think he did, but I may have missed something), Death is someone who transcends genders.
I'm really liking the writer's style, too, his prose never felt forced, in the look-at-how-good-I-write way, but it was still rich and beautifully written.
Also, what do you think about the bolded paragraphs? Do you think it's still Death the narrator or it's the author taking their place or something else entirely? Personally, I very much enjoy them, they seem like a nice blend of prose and poetry.
Allyson wrote: "Katie wrote: "Alright, initial thoughts for the first 50 pages. So far, I really like it. I'm not sure if I've ever read a book where death was the narrator. Interested to see how that shapes the..."
I took the bolded paragraphs as kind of an aside, like (this is the dumbest example of all time) in Emperor's New Groove when the film stops and Cuzco is adding in extra narration like an fyi, then the movie goes on as usual. Or in movies where the film stops and a caption pops up on the screen to explain more about the character. So, yes, I still read it as Death, just giving us some more information before the part of the story they're telling moves on.
For some reason I also got the impression that this Death was male? Although I don’t think they ever specified it. I’m really liking it so far. I imagine the bolded paragraphs as Death giving us his commentary, quite like Cuzco! I enjoy reading them, they’re fun.
When I read the bit about the dead pilot and someone placing a teddy bear on their chest I had the feeling that when we read that scene from Liesel’s POV (Or really Death reading Liesel’s POV from her book) I’m most probably gonna cry a lot.
I also thought that Death was male. I've never read something like that. I am loving it so far!
Gareless, that is exactly what I was thinking! I felt that it had nothing to do with Liesel.
To be honest, hearing how her new mother treats her breaks my heart. I know that it's out of love, but I can't read it as that. I adore her father, though.
Liesel is such a great character who doesn't take crap from ANYBODY. I love this child.
I was asked today how I like the book and when I responded, the person told me to keep the tissues close. Um, say nothing more, please and thanks!!!
Gareless, that is exactly what I was thinking! I felt that it had nothing to do with Liesel.
To be honest, hearing how her new mother treats her breaks my heart. I know that it's out of love, but I can't read it as that. I adore her father, though.
Liesel is such a great character who doesn't take crap from ANYBODY. I love this child.
I was asked today how I like the book and when I responded, the person told me to keep the tissues close. Um, say nothing more, please and thanks!!!
Nothing But Reading Challenges
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