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A review by areadinggem
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
4.0
“Like most misery, it started with apparent happiness.”
[b:The Book Thief|19063|The Book Thief|Markus Zusak|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522157426l/19063._SY75_.jpg|878368] by [a:Markus Zusak|11466|Markus Zusak|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1537240528p2/11466.jpg] was one of those books I wasn't sure about at first. Historical fiction is not a genre I usually lean towards which was why I had some conflicted thoughts about this book when I started reading it. When I first picked it up, it took me ages to just go through 50 pages. I set it down for a while, not having been in the right mood for it apparently. A few months later, I decided to give it another go. To be honest, I felt like the beginning was slow. I reached a point where I wanted to stop, again, but everyone kept telling me how the ending was worth pushing though, so I did. I do not regret it.
“The consequence of this is that I'm always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both."
The book follows Liesel Meminger's story, narrated by Death. Liesel was a young German girl who lost her brother and was given up by her mother straight after. She ends up living with her new foster family, the Hubermann's, in Himmel Street. Time goes by and Liesel manages to fit into her new family and get used to her new life. She builds new friendships, as with her next door neighbor, Rudy Steiner. Liesel also finds solace in books. Books that she steals. This habit of hers started by her brother's graveside, where she stole her first book: The Gravedigger's Handbook. The thing is, Liesel cannot read. But that is where Hans Hubermann, also known as Papa, steps in. He teachers his foster daughter everything she needs to know in order to be able to read her stolen books.
All is well until the war starts closing in on Himmel Street, and the fact that the Hubermann's have a Jew in hiding inside their basement does not help. Several events take place during the war and a new profound friendship gets built between Liesel and the Jew, Max. So you can definitely imagine how hard it was for Liesel, and even the Hubermann's, to let him go one day, due to a particular event that takes place. More book thievery and mischief later, the day comes when everything in Liesel's life changes. Was it for better or for worse? I guess you'll have to find out for yourself...
“Somewhere, far down, there was an itch in his heart, but he made it a point not to scratch it. He was afraid of what might come leaking out.”
The things I liked the most about this book were the following:
• The fact that the story was narrated by Death.
• The beautiful style of writing and the sprinkle of German words here and there.
• The way that Liesel found peace and comfort in books, even with all the difficulties she had to face in order to learn how to read one, let alone possess it.
• How it highlighted that kids really do have the purest hearts. You can see that with how Liesel welcomed Max in, even with all their differences, and became his friend who helped him survive the dangerous and scary times they were going through.
• The way Papa Hans took great care of Liesel, as if she truly was his own daughter. Even Mama Rosa had a little soft spot for the girl.
• The ending. Not the one that brought us all to tears, no, but the one where the book thief finds her own ending.
“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”
Even though I had some difficulty getting into the book at first, I'm very glad I continued until the end. I can honestly say that [b:The Book Thief|19063|The Book Thief|Markus Zusak|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522157426l/19063._SY75_.jpg|878368] is the kind of book you'd wish you could read again, for the very first time.
[b:The Book Thief|19063|The Book Thief|Markus Zusak|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522157426l/19063._SY75_.jpg|878368] by [a:Markus Zusak|11466|Markus Zusak|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1537240528p2/11466.jpg] was one of those books I wasn't sure about at first. Historical fiction is not a genre I usually lean towards which was why I had some conflicted thoughts about this book when I started reading it. When I first picked it up, it took me ages to just go through 50 pages. I set it down for a while, not having been in the right mood for it apparently. A few months later, I decided to give it another go. To be honest, I felt like the beginning was slow. I reached a point where I wanted to stop, again, but everyone kept telling me how the ending was worth pushing though, so I did. I do not regret it.
“The consequence of this is that I'm always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both."
The book follows Liesel Meminger's story, narrated by Death. Liesel was a young German girl who lost her brother and was given up by her mother straight after. She ends up living with her new foster family, the Hubermann's, in Himmel Street. Time goes by and Liesel manages to fit into her new family and get used to her new life. She builds new friendships, as with her next door neighbor, Rudy Steiner. Liesel also finds solace in books. Books that she steals. This habit of hers started by her brother's graveside, where she stole her first book: The Gravedigger's Handbook. The thing is, Liesel cannot read. But that is where Hans Hubermann, also known as Papa, steps in. He teachers his foster daughter everything she needs to know in order to be able to read her stolen books.
All is well until the war starts closing in on Himmel Street, and the fact that the Hubermann's have a Jew in hiding inside their basement does not help. Several events take place during the war and a new profound friendship gets built between Liesel and the Jew, Max. So you can definitely imagine how hard it was for Liesel, and even the Hubermann's, to let him go one day, due to a particular event that takes place. More book thievery and mischief later, the day comes when everything in Liesel's life changes. Was it for better or for worse? I guess you'll have to find out for yourself...
“Somewhere, far down, there was an itch in his heart, but he made it a point not to scratch it. He was afraid of what might come leaking out.”
The things I liked the most about this book were the following:
• The fact that the story was narrated by Death.
• The beautiful style of writing and the sprinkle of German words here and there.
• The way that Liesel found peace and comfort in books, even with all the difficulties she had to face in order to learn how to read one, let alone possess it.
• How it highlighted that kids really do have the purest hearts. You can see that with how Liesel welcomed Max in, even with all their differences, and became his friend who helped him survive the dangerous and scary times they were going through.
• The way Papa Hans took great care of Liesel, as if she truly was his own daughter. Even Mama Rosa had a little soft spot for the girl.
• The ending. Not the one that brought us all to tears, no, but the one where the book thief finds her own ending.
“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”
Even though I had some difficulty getting into the book at first, I'm very glad I continued until the end. I can honestly say that [b:The Book Thief|19063|The Book Thief|Markus Zusak|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522157426l/19063._SY75_.jpg|878368] is the kind of book you'd wish you could read again, for the very first time.