The Book Thief
Ratings1,266
Average rating4.3
This book haunts me. I loved the POV being from Death himself narrating the events of the Holocaust, and the prose is amazing and quite novel - this was the first book I read with non-traditional writing - asides, breaks to give definitions or other information or the color Death was feeling at the moment, it was really fun to read despite the subject matter.
I'm just not interested enough to continue. Second time trying this, gonna call it a Not For Me.
Another favorite of mine. Great story with great characters that I can read over and over and over again.
“Trust me, though, the words were on their way, and when they arrived, Liesel would hold them in her hands like the clouds, and she would wring them out like rain.”
A young German girl's brother dies as their communist branded mother takes them to their new foster home. Introduce a Jewish man who escapes the Holocaust in the heart of Nazi Germany during the the Second World War. Have Death narrate the story. Oh, and we're gonna put it in the teen section.
Pure storytelling populated with characters you will come to love. Markus Zusak is rightfully lauded for his work here painting real characters. The squat, cardboard faced Rosa. Lemon haired and defiant Rudy who paints himself black in homage to Jesse Owens, Liesel the book thief and so many more.
Loved this book.
A young adult novel very much in demand at my library. When it was chosen at the previous bookclub a month back I was No 12 on the list. By the weekend before book club I was down to No 6 which speaks to its popularity for a book published in 2005.
More lyrical than I expected - haven't read much WWII set in Germany literature. My exposure has been more Thomas Keneally 'Schindler's list', Primo Levi's 'If This Is a Man', and Art Spiegelman 'Maus'.
I was intrigued by the use of a philosophical, sentimental, melancholy grim reaper as the narrator, giving it a more resonant 3rd person perspective. Death was able to provide some of the more reflections, “I am haunted by humans.” "I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and brutality. But what could I tell her about those things that she didn’t already know? I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race—that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.
This big, (552 pages depending on edition and font size) expansive novel is a leisurely working out of fate, of seemingly chance encounters and events that ultimately touch, like dominoes as they collide. The writing is elegant, philosophical and moving. I have read a few reviews that recommend it is to be read slowly and savored. Sorry not really my thing but I can understand why it was so well regarded.
I've never read a book that made me cry so much, like this one did. An emotional story, amazing and lovely characters. Please read it.
I watched the movie before reading this and it was a great companion to the book. Finally having read the book I must say it was worth the read. Even though I knew what would happen in the book, because of the film, the writing and stirring storytelling had me in tears by the end.
I will say that this book is written for adolescent kids. The wording and gentle way it brings up major topics is fit for a school room. I found that I liked the movie a little more as some of the descriptions were a little odd, more child like. With this in mind I did enjoy the story, and it was worth reading at least once.
A good book always makes you feel a lack of control, I really like to scream into my pillow out of helplessness and inability to influence the plot. Some people even write fanfics because of this. I prefer to let glass run in my veins until the end.
Truly the best book I have ever read, the most evocative and tremendous piece of writing to exist - a gift to read
It‘s such a sad book. It scared me. I could not put it down and had to continue reading.
I'm not usually a historical fiction girlie but I wanted to read this one since it's so widely beloved. I've been in whatever the opposite of a slump is lately so I was flying through it but wasn't sure if I was actually enjoying it at first.
But as I continued to read I found myself falling in love with the characters and becoming deeply connected to them.
I sobbed so hard at the end I could barely see the words anymore. And that ability to evoke such strong emotion in me is what caused me to give this a 4 instead of what I was sure would be closer to a 3 most of the read.
This story is heartbreaking and so unique in the way it's told (be g narrated by death??)
Even if it's not your typical genre I would still recommend it.
wow. så vacker.
läste den på en vecka på jobbet. bara så vacker. fantastiskt välskriven och gripande. grät på jobbet.
I just finished The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, an audiobook and here are my musings.
Liesel is standing by her brother's grave when she sees it.... A book. The gravedigger's handbook. The book that starts off her love for book theft. It's 1939 and death has never been busier
Liesel begins her love for words and books with her foster family, a couple who have the heart of angels. They dangerously hide a jew in the basement even when they have little to give. Liesel learns what it's like to live, love, learn and all the losses that come between it, while death watches from the wings.
I had no idea if this was going to be a book I was going to enjoy when I first started. I know people rave about this book but I guess I wasn't really sold on the concept of it and while I hate being proved wrong, this book really was everything people said it was and more.
The characters the author carefully constructed were incredible. Liesel didn't let anything stand in her way, even after all the loss at such a young age. Watching her learn to read and the comforts she found within the pages, well every bookworm can attest to the feeling of safety and contentment a book can bring even in the darkest of our days.
I really enjoyed the POV of death as well. The way he lived in wonderment of the living. I also wasn't expecting the book to be funny as well as emotionally devastating. Maybe it was just the narrator but man, was I chuckling. The author did a phenomenal job of giving us the narrative of what it was like for the German people during the time of war and how most of them didn't agree with what was going on but felt they had no voices either.
It was brilliant. Simple perfection. I am so glad I took the time to give into the hype that surrounded this book and I am a better person for reading it.
5 stars. I would love to be an etch-a-sketch, reading this book again for the first time would be magical.
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I think I would've liked this book a lot more had I read it in a different point of my life. I just feel like the setting of WWII is overused and now I'm determined to skip books like this for some time.
This book does, however, bring something different to the table. The fact that it's narrated by death itself is interesting and darker than most books of this kind.
I had a good time exploring the friendship Liesel had with Rudy and with her foster parents Rosa and Hans. I think the key of the book is there, to see how people can still be kind and nurturing to their loved ones even in tough times.
This book was incredible. The writing was easy to follow, easy to read, compelling, and utterly intriguing. The story of Liesel Memminger is easily one of the best stories I have ever read. This is in my top 5 of my favorite reads.
Shockingly heartfelt and real, The Book Thief is a book I will remember for a long time. The unique perspective of Death narrating such a time of tragedy such as the Holocaust, adds greatly to the story, and the words suck you right in, to the very end, in which I sobbed.
3,5/5⭐️
Erg heftig verhaal! Weet aub bij voorbaat dat dit boek geschreven wordt vanuit de dood. Ik wist dat niet en dat maakte hey boek heel erg verwarrend!
Het boek is wel taai, omdat je leest over iemand leven in de oorlog, maar ik vond het wel aangrijpend.
Ook ik moest op t einde een traantje wegpinken...
Wow. This book made me feel so many emotions. It's heart wrenching and just incredible.
"What do you want to kiss me for? I'm filthy."
"So am I."
“Saukeln,” she laughed, and as she held up her hand, she knew completely that he was simultaneosly calling her a Saumensch. I think that's as close to love as eleven-year-olds can get.
A Small But Noteworthy Note: I've seen so many young men over the years who think they're running at other young men. They are not. They're running at me.
On many counts, taking a boy like Ruby was robbery - so much life, so much to live for - yet somehow, I'm certain he would have loved to see the frightening rubble and the swelling of the sky on the night he passed away. He'd have cried and turned and smiled if only he could have seen the book thief on her hands and knees, next to his lifeless body. He'd have been glad to witness her kissing his dusty, bombhit lips.Yes, I know it.In the darkness of my dark-beating heart, I know.He'd have loved it all right. You see? Even death has a heart.