Harriet Klausner's Review of Markus Zusak, The Book Thief
16th Feb 2006
Overall Rating
- Value for money
The Book Thief
Markus Zusak
Knopf, Mar 2006, $16.95
ISBN: 0375831002
During World War II near Munich, Germany, nine year old Liesel Meminger finds a tome "The Gravedigger's Handbook" while attending her younger brother's funeral. Unable to resist she takes the book with her. However, she is unable to read the book until fate steps in. Her father is missing and her mother cannot afford her upkeep, so she gives Liesel to foster parents, acerbic Rosa Hubermann and her kindhearted spouse Hans, who owes a Jew his life.
Hans helps Liesel cope with her nightmares and teaches his ward to read. His chance to pay the war debt to the Jewish soldier who saved his life finally occurs when the man's son, the artist Max, arrives at his house seeking shelter. As Max paints over pages of the Mein Kampf, Leisel steals books from Nazi burnings and begins to write about living at a time of misery caused by fellow humans. If the Nazis catch either one, Death will be a welcome guest.
This is a complex book in which the narrator Death tells the tale of Liesel and Max. Interestingly Death is a cynic when it comes to human behavior, especially kindness towards others; the apparition recognizes that his best suppliers of goods are people, who in spite of their Golden Rule ramble contain homicidal tendencies rationalized by an ism of some sort. The fascinating asides to the readers are brilliant, as they enable the audience to understand the cast he looks upon adding to his collection, but especially Death itself. Give yourself plenty of time, over a week or more, as Markus Zusak has written one of the most haunting tales of the human condition in several years.
On average, people found this review very helpful
Members' Comments onHarriet Klausner's Review
kathiemccrimmon
on 2nd Mar 2008
Markus Zusak Biography
I agree with this review. I would add that it may very well be the best book I've read since Birdsong. The sombre subject matter was told in an original way -- often with black humor, as Death works his way through the torment of the holocaust, World War II and witnesses the best and the worst of mankind. More than once I burst out laughing, especially at the antics of Liesl and her best friend -- only to myself close to tears by the end of the page. It's a wonderful book that I wished would never come to an end.