The Book Thief Discussion (Dec 2021 BotM)

[[deleted user]]

This is the discussion for the Book Thief....Looking for a discussion leader!

[Akira]

Well, I’m only on page 110 but if you still need a leader I can do it :)

[[deleted user]]

I am on a page around 70

[[deleted user]]

Okay Akira! That'd be awesome!

[ReadingBunny]

I am on pages 150 and it took me about 20 page to realise who was the narrator.

[[deleted user]]

lol. felt that.

[Akira]

Okay! Well spoilers ahead, I warned you!!!
So far, I want to give “Papa” (Hans) the absolute biggest hug and kiss on the cheek. He is just the sweetest man that Germany has ever known. I just have this sinking gut feeling that something bad is going to happen. From some spoilers I’ve seen he is a Jewish sympathizer.
His love for his accordion and Liesel is so commendable. He isn’t even very literate himself and goes above and beyond for his foster daughter.
Liesel on the other hand is a BADASS!!! Stepping up for herself to the bully? Ok sis I see you. She persevered through awful life circumstances already, with the help of Hans of course, but god I love her. She is the textbook definition of resilience. And yeah, she’s got some trauma. But let’s be real, who doesn’t? The drive it takes to try and try again after you’re awful at reading and writing and keep trying. Although it’s heartbreaking her writing letters to her biological mom, I have a feeling her mother isn’t replying for a reason out of her control.
Rosa or “Mama” just seems like an old lady stuck in her ways. She does love Hans and Liesel but I think her aggression is truly fear for what could happen to her loved ones. I’m not condoning the beatings by any means but they’re in tough times and it’s hard to unlearn what you already know.
Please piggyback off me and let me know what you think!! I’m
going to try to get to page 200 and update tomorrow!

[[deleted user]]

I am on page 150 now too!

[Akira]

Pg 110-195

Wow!! Okay, so Max is obviously going to be hiding out in Lisel’s home. Max is Hans’ friends son. Like I said, how sweet is Hans??? The best man in Nazi Germany hands down. And seems like Max is a Floyd Mayweather badass mofo. Him and walter’s friendship is so strange yet commendable. And how great of Walter to stick his neck out for Max and basically be risking death for him.
I just can’t help but fall in love with these characters.

[[deleted user]]

me too yes!

[Akira]

Pg 195-293
Max and Liesel’s friendship is just the most beautiful thing. His book brought tears to my eyes. Also death ruined the fact that Rudy dies because he doesn’t like mysteries. Lol ok *eyeroll*

Side note: I was thrifting for books today and I found this in a brand new physical copy! I was using my iPad to read it through scribd but nothing beats holding the legit book in your hands. Especially for $3!!!

[[deleted user]]

wow that's quite the deal!!

[[deleted user]]

Well my update is that I am going slow and I reached page 347

[[deleted user]]

Akira wrote: "Pg 195-293
Max and Liesel’s friendship is just the most beautiful thing. His book brought tears to my eyes. Also death ruined the fact that Rudy dies because he doesn’t like mysteries. Lol ok *eyer..."

Yes it was like a shock for me too I read that like five times to make myself believe

[Akira]

Joan you’re going faster than me!!! Lol
But honestly I’m actually in love with narration of the book. They do give a lot away but for some reason it doesn’t bug me and just leaves me saying “ok but what happened ACTUALLY!!” The point of view is so captivating and you get such insight to the characters. I feel transported to 1940 Germany when I read it. Just incredible. I know this book will me one of my favorites of all time.

[Akira]

**will be one of my favorites of all time

[[deleted user]]

Akira wrote: "Joan you’re going faster than me!!! Lol
But honestly I’m actually in love with narration of the book. They do give a lot away but for some reason it doesn’t bug me and just leaves me saying “ok but..."

Of course. It is like the author had written this book in 2005 and he was born in 1975 (don't mind it I like searching things up) still he got the timings the circumstances so precise I am amazed. The characters are so well described that sometimes it feels like it is you who is Liesel or Death. The setting of the story and the things that happen unexpected is something I truly loved about this book. I still am not getting what I loved about this book and that is also something I like because most of the books I love don't have reasons to be loved by me just I love them.

[Akira]

Pg 293-442
Wow almost done with this rollercoaster of a book. I know it’s unlikely but I just hope that Max and Hans will be okay. What’s shitty is there’s only like 100 some pages left so I know Rudy is going to die soon. I have this feeling that it’s about to hit the fan reallllll soon.

[[deleted user]]

I just started this book lol. I've already read it, but just want to refresh so I can be a help of the discussion.

[[deleted user]]

Yes I guess! I am really sad that Max left for no reason

[[deleted user]]

I am on page 447 BTW

[[deleted user]]

I think I'm on like 20

[[deleted user]]

and me on 548

[[deleted user]]

Sav wrote: "I think I'm on like 20"

come on you just started Sav!

[[deleted user]]

You have to admit that the start if only a little is boring

[Akira]

I will never emotionally recover from this book.
Let me collect my thoughts

[[deleted user]]

Yes I felt the same thing when reading the last book of the Infernal devices series

[[deleted user]]

I am kind of liking this book
Cath is an introvert
I think Levi and Cath are going to end up with each other (just a feeling)
WBU?

[Shay]

I started pretty recently, I'm so behind. How are you guys enjoying it? Anyone done yet?

[Christina]

I’m on page 197. Max just showed up at Liesil’s house. So far I’m enjoying it whereas I didn’t think I would.

[jen]

i’ve already read the book thief but it’s one of my favorite books ever and i’m jealous of the people that get to read this for the first time

[[deleted user]]

Joan wrote: "Sav wrote: "I think I'm on like 20"

come on you just started Sav!"


YEAH I KNOWWW
*crying**

I've been really busy I feel so badddd

[[deleted user]]

Sav wrote: "Joan wrote: "Sav wrote: "I think I'm on like 20"

come on you just started Sav!"


YEAH I KNOWWW
*crying**

I've been really busy I feel so badddd"

WHY?? You should not feel bad you know

[[deleted user]]

BTW guys the book was the best book I have ever read but so sad and heartbreaking I could not stop crying like literally I cried for the second time where books are concerned. First I did when I completed the Clockwork Princess

[[deleted user]]

here is my review, but do not read it if you have not completed the whole book.

[[deleted user]]

(view spoiler)[Here is a small fact: you are going to die

It tore me apart!

That is not all I would say about this book.

I am astonished by the context and perspective of the story, as it is told by someone we have never met: Death. Death says he's haunted by humans, and I believe he's right. We are born to die or we die to be born again, I don't know, secrets are still secrets. The souls, the people, we make links with them, we love them, knowing that one day none of us will exist, not only on earth, but also in the minds.

A reassuring announcement: Please, be calm, despite that previous threat. I am not violent. I am not malicious. I am a result.


Papa (Hans Hubermann), just blew my heart away as he died. His death was more tragic than the rest. Oh dear Rudy. Do you have any idea how much Liesel loved you? Don't you know how she feels about your death? Oh no! All you cared about was that kiss you never received from her. Is that so? Eh? The tragic deaths of all the people around and death tells so peacefully, as if it sedated them. I cannot help but love every character, even death. Everything is beautiful in this book. The kiss, the theft, the mini-stories of Max, the presents given to Max by Liesel, the accordion, the insults of Rosa Hubermann (Mama) and everything. The accordion breathes as Papa breathes, Papa is the accordion. He is the sweetness of music and the taste of music, the keys and the notes because he is the accordion.


One opportunity leads directly to another, just as risk leads to more risk, life to more life and death to more death

The accordion and the book, they bought the characters together. Papa with Rosa, Liesel with Papa, Rosa with Liesel, Liesel with Rudy, Papa with Max and Max with Liesel. It is unbelievable that two normal things which are often found in the world could bring people together and save someone's life, but life is surprising in its many ways.

Hitler truly deserved the death he received in my view because he is a whore

'When death captures me,' the boy vowed, 'he will feel my fist on his face.

One story I cannot deny is "The Word Shaker." Words have the power to destroy us, to rebuild us, to convince, to reject and to even capture the world. Liesel, at such a young age, has understood something years of experience cannot and that means she has experienced the world in these few years?

'After all,' he said, 'you should know it yourself - a young man is still a boy, and a boy sometimes has the right to be stubborn.'

Papa is heaven and anyone cannot prove it to be wrong that that is why he lives in Himmel Street. He is a teacher, a friend, a best friend, an uncle, a husband and a father. Liesel may have seen or not seen her father but Papa is the only true father she had.

Mama. What could I say about her? She is a coconut: hard on the outside but soft in the inside. My opinions changed about her when she hugged Liesel for the first time after she had a bath. I can say nothing more because she is heaven's wife.

'His hair is like feathers.'

The Jew fist-fighter is the one that broke my heart for the first time in the book when he left Liesel and Papa and Mama with the thought that they would get caught because of him. No, he shouldn't have, but yes he should have because that is how he survived.

The lovely Rudy Steiner is the little miracle that happened in Liesel's life. He is like a pure golden chain that when tugged at, breaks. Oh dear Rudy.

Liesel Meminger hated herself for being in the basement, writing her stupid story, but no, it was not her fault at all. It was the stupid Fuhrer that did all that happened.

It is my favourite book of all time and I loved it more than anything out there, just like Liesel.

A Masterpiece (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

https://www.goodreads.com/quizzes/res...

[[deleted user]]

I made a quiz on the book

[Akira]

I watched the movie last night and it was really good. Definitely very different from the book but still made me cry like a baby.

[Christina]

What a deeply profound story! The author made me feel like I was right there being Liesel myself. Witnessing the persecution of the Jews, knowing and feeling what it was like to be in a bomb shelter. Having that special friendship with Rudy and his antics. And also the thrill of being a thief. I didn’t think I would like this story but how wrong I was! I think it’s opened up the way for me to explore other works of fiction and non-fiction that I would not otherwise read.

[Christina]

I’m very sorry that I may have spoiled the book for some who have not finished. Please accept my apologies.

[[deleted user]]

Oh truly! me too I loved the book so much. I really liked Turtles All The Way Down and it was my favorite till now but I doubt it because The Book Thief replaced it! I am so glad I read this book!!!!!!

[Akira]

How’s everyone’s progress with the book?

[[deleted user]]

Completed!

[[deleted user]]

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here is my review on it

[Akira]

Great review, Joan!! You took the words right out of my head!!

[[deleted user]]

Thanks Akira!