What book is good enough to follow The Book Thief?

[Kate]

I've got 200 or so pages left of The Book Thief and I'm loving every minute of it. In the same way that I worried when I started it that it wouldn't live up to it's recommendations (but by God it has), I'm now worrying that no book could be good enough to follow The Book Thief.

It needn't be similar to The Book Thief, just something that gives me as much pleasure to read as this has.

[John]

Kate wrote: "It needn't be similar to The Book Thief, just something that gives me as much pleasure to read as this has."

You haven't given use enough information to make a recommendation. What is it about Book Thief that you like?

[Melissa]

Hm.. As John says, difficult to know what your taste is, but since The Book Thief is on my "Books I adored" list, I can try to recommend you a couple of other things from there...

1. In terms of good reads which most people seem to enjoy when recommended, you could try Carter Beats the Devil. It's well written and engaging so may help to fill the gap.

2. If you want a complete change, I could recommend Three Men in a Boat. It's just pretty funny - a late 19th Century tale of three slackers who decide they need some time off and take a trip down the Thames. An enjoyable read.

3. If you want to stick to a second world war theme, then Catch-22 is great. BUT it divides people like marmite. If you're in the group who love it, then it would be a great next book, if you don't click with it in the first few pages, then I'd probably advise you try something else.

4. And for some reason I get the feeling you might like Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. This is a dark book, about magic and fairies spilling over into 19th Century England. Very readable and interesting.

Hope one of these catches your interest!

Mel

[Kate]

Fair enough I haven't really explained much! What I am loving about The Book Thief are 1/ the setting of the novel - being English, I've never yet come across a book that portrays WWII from the German perspective likewise 2/ never have I read a book that has made me like Death (the character) 3/ I love the lyricism of his descriptive passages, they really make me think but above all else I'm loving the absolute readability of the book. I read solely for pleasure and am happy to read trash if that's what will provide escapism from the mundanity of bringing up two toddlers, but equally, considering my life is surrounded by children, something to keep the cogs of my brain oiled is a bonus. I can't be bothered reading a heavy and unenjoyable book simply because I would be smug reading it in public, but if it is heavy and enjoyable, the smugness is an added bonus! Subject matter isn't really important although my historical knowledge is lacking so novels that can enlighten me about history, whether recent or ancient, are welcomed. Having recently read and loathed and detested The Time Traveler's Wife, I'm quite keen to avoid any fantasy. Hope that gives you a helping hand in making any recommendations and Melissa, thank you for your recs, I'm off to look them all up and mull over them. Catch-22 is an interesting one as I've never read it but often felt I should, using the expression so often but not knowing the story behind it. As a bonus, it's on our shelves..

[Julia]

Kate wrote: "Fair enough I haven't really explained much! What I am loving about The Book Thief are 1/ the setting of the novel - being English, I've never yet come across a book that portrays WWII from the Ge..."

Kate wrote: "Fair enough I haven't really explained much! What I am loving about The Book Thief are 1/ the setting of the novel - being English, I've never yet come across a book that portrays WWII from the Ge..."

It's good to join one of the book clubs on this site.

My most recent excellent book - "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.

Regarding history - Ken Follett ... he is my favorite author!!

[Kate]

I think I must have a deeper look at The Help - both my mother and sister have said I must read it but for some reason I keep reading other books.

[Sarah]

If you'd like to stay on theme (and you mentioned enjoying the German perspective) I'd recommend A Woman in Berlin. It's the account of an anonymous German woman living in Berlin at the end of the war. Very interesting, but difficult read.

[Dee]

if you like the YA type books - you could try - Between Shades of Gray - tells the story of a 15 year old in Lithuania during WW2 when Stalin annex'd the baltic states and what happened to her and her family

another book I read recently and enjoyed was Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away - set in Nigeria and told through the eyes of an 11 year old and I just started reading Out of Shadows which is set in Zimbabwe just after they declared their independance and its interesting

[Kate]

Oooh, those are great recommendations Dee, thank you

[Esoldra]

You should try 'I am the Messenger' by the same author. I was dubious as I had in the past enjoyed books and then read more books by the same author to only be let down. But this book is completely different, the only comparison is that moving ability of the author, through words. Set in a completely different time and scenario but so thought provoking and emotive.

[Dee]

kate - hope you enjoy them - i'm doing a challenge in another group where the goal is to read 80 books set in 80 different countries and I have found some really good reads because of it

[Jane]

You could also try Sarah's Key

[Paula]

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly!

[Dee]

I would absolutely recommend Sarah's Key. Read the book when it came out and just saw the moview last week, terrific! I would also recommend Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum. About what a woman does during WWII to save her baby and herself. two great reads.

PS: The Book Thief is counted in the top 5 of my all time favorite books.

[Alyssa]

Definitely, definitely, definitely try Zusak's other novels. Each one is completely different from The Book Thief, but, thanks to his unique writing style, completely incredible.

On a side note (for diehard Zusak fans): he has another book coming out this fall! It's called The Bridge of Clay, and seems as amazing as his other novels. Can't wait!

[Whitman]

Loved The Book Thief. Also loved The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer. The characters felt like family by the end.

[Michael]

marcus zusak is amazing loved book theif and a few others of his

[Jay]

I thought Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky covered the times as well, although intense in a different way than The Book Thief. Part of the experience of this story is to read the history of the book - it helps to understand the state of the book and to realize what is missing.

[Dara S.]

Dee wrote: "I would absolutely recommend Sarah's Key. Read the book when it came out and just saw the moview last week, terrific! I would also recommend Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum. About what a woman do..."

I agree with the 2 above. I gave all 3 books 5 stars.

[Dara S.]

Esoldra wrote: "You should try 'I am the Messenger' by the same author. I was dubious as I had in the past enjoyed books and then read more books by the same author to only be let down. But this book is complete..."

I enjoyed this, but I did not think it was as good as The Book Thief.

[Lidia]

I am almost done with House Rules (Jodi Picoult). My next one is definitly The Help

[Lidia]

Sarah wrote: "If you'd like to stay on theme (and you mentioned enjoying the German perspective) I'd recommend A Woman in Berlin. It's the account of an anonymous German woman living in Berlin at the end of the..."

I've got another one on my 'To read' list on the topic of WWII. It is Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosney.

Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel' d'Hiv' roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.
Paris, May 2002: On Vel' d'Hiv's 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.
Tatiana de Rosnay offers us a brilliantly subtle, compelling portrait of France under occupation and reveals the taboos and silence that surround this painful episode.

[Lidia]

Jane wrote: "You could also try Sarah's Key"

Have you read it yet? It is on my to read list.

[Cyd]

You have gotten some great suggestions. I'll have to read some of those myself. My favorite book this year has been A Dog's Purpose.

[Lidia]

Cyd wrote: "You have gotten some great suggestions. I'll have to read some of those myself. My favorite book this year has been A Dog's Purpose."

I am sur4e that is the book a friend told me about.

[Jane]

Lidia wrote: "Jane wrote: "You could also try Sarah's Key"

Have you read it yet? It is on my to read list."


I read it a couple of months ago and would highly recommend it.

[Lidia]

Thanks for the info, Jane.

[Shawn]

I loved The Book Thief for the same reason. It is just so beautifully written and a funny narration by Death is such an unexpected, but delightfully powerful twist.

I know you're avoiding fantasy, but for beautiful, lyrical prose, I would suggest anything by Charles de Lint, but in particular Memory and Dream. The fantasy angle is rather low key, but the prose captivated me.

Also, have you read Life of Pi by Yann Martel? You might enjoy it. They are both Canadian authors, so there's an international flavour as well.

[Mansi]

Life of Pi is alright....

[Kate]

Wowee, I have got some really fantastic recommendations from you all. Thank you so much. I finished The Book Thief this morning and was literally sobbing - you know when you have to stop for a break in crying just to draw in that huge deep breath so that you can start again? My husband assumed I hadn't enjoyed the book and told me I should have stopped reading it - how wrong he was! Totally unrelated to The Book Thief (well it's WW11, but that's about the only similarity), I have now started The Collaborator (AKA The Soldier's Wife) which was recommended to me when I enjoyed The Guernsey Literary...etc. I bought it then and since it was on my shelf, I felt it made sense to read it now. But for more thought-provoking books, I am very tempted by Sarah's Key and I am a Messenger, oh and also Between Shades of Grey and The Help - my to-read list gets longer by the day!

[Mansi]

I cried at the end of it...

[Mansi]

It was the only book I cried for!!!

[Laura]

Excellent exchange here! FUN! I, too, found I Am the Messenger making me a Marcus Zusak fan. If it's Holocaust stories you like, one of the best i have read is In My Hands by Irene Gut Opdyke--semi auto-biographical and engrossing!

[Evelyn]

Lovd that book!! I cried too.

[Elaine]

"The Elegance of the Hedgehog" is as wonderful as "The Book Thief"

[Julia]

Sarah's Key (deRosnay) is great, and I also recommend Carlos Ruiz Zafon's Shadow of the Wind.

[Kerem]

Yeah, 'The Book Thief' is one of my all time favorites too, perhaps 'Looking for Alaska' by John Green or 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' by Ned Vizzini would be great to read next, both are YA novels and real page turners.

[Jane]

Julia wrote: "Sarah's Key (deRosnay) is great, and I also recommend Carlos Ruiz Zafon's Shadow of the Wind."

I loved Shadow of the Wind - a wonderful story.

[Kate]

Funnily Shadow of the wind is on my to read list already but the fact it's getting so may recommendations lifts it up my list!

[Ann]

I echo Alyssa's comment, I Am the Messenger is completely different, yet also wonderful. Different style, different pov, different and thought provoking.
Alyssa wrote: "Definitely, definitely, definitely try Zusak's other novels. Each one is completely different from The Book Thief, but, thanks to his unique writing style, completely incredible. ."

[J]

I recommend forbidden by Tabitha Suzema

[Grace]

'City of thieves' by David Benioff. (Sorry, possibly wrong spelling.) It's similar to 'The Book Thief', but set in Russia and from a boy's perspective. It's not as good in my opinion, but that just makes you appreciate 'The Book Thief' more!

[Kerem]

City of Thieves sounds great, I've heard of the author but never checked him out.

[Beth]

I was just going to say City of Thieves as well. Loved it.. it floated around our lake house all summer last year and everyone loved it

[Beth]

Some others that are notable that I couldn't put down and appreciated the characters and writing are:
Those Who Save Us
Unbroken
Two Rivers
The Hour I First Believed
A Reliable Wife
I Know this much is True
Faith

[Kerem]

Hey, thanks for those recommendations, I've heard of Wally Lamb and the size of the books always put me off, but maybe i'll get his stuff from the library.

[Genevieve]

Elaine wrote: ""The Elegance of the Hedgehog" is as wonderful as "The Book Thief""

I have been wanting to read this one since it came out...and since you say it's as wonderful as "The Book Thief" I'm definitely going to have to get around to it!

[Laura]

Wally Lamb's writing in The Hour I First Believed turned me off! Depressing and drivels on and on! I probably won't try another Wally Lamb. However, I second votes for City of Thieves. And so many recommendatons of Sarah's Key and Shadow of the Wind put those on my list! I'm reading the Legend of Colton H. Bryant by Alexandra Fuller (Don't Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight) right now and quite enjoying it.

[Laura]

In my book, other books that come close to being as good as The Book Thief are In My Hands, Stones in the River (by Ursula Hegi) and Guernsey Literary Society.

[Laura]

Dee wrote: "if you like the YA type books - you could try - Between Shades of Gray - tells the story of a 15 year old in Lithuania during WW2 when Stalin annex'd the baltic states and what happe..."

Al three of these suggestions sound wonderful! Thanks!