The Book Thief

(4.5 stars.) I had no idea what this book was about or what to expect. I knew only that it was on my “film” shelf, meaning, “Read it before you watch the film based on it”—because I like reading the books first.

The Book Thief is horrible and wonderful and intense and light-hearted and cruel and compassionate, all at the same time. It's fully cognisant of a horrible time in our history without focusing solely on the horror. Through telling the story of a coming of age among lives cut short too soon, we are shown a perspective that is sympathetic more than empathetic, but still gut-wrenching.

I sobbed through a lot of it. Which naturally earns it high marks.