Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

I really enjoyed reading Markus Zusak's The Book Thief. A chance find at a railway station branch of WHS whilst browsing for a good read for a long train journey that proved to be a great choice.

The story is subtle and wonderfuly delightful. The narration by death gives it a different twist as the story of the book thief, Liesel unfolds in wartime Germany. With a backdrop of the Third Reich you could be mistaken in thinking the book is a little morbid but not so, the story is told in a magical way that has you laughing as well as trying not to cry (esp on a train!). A lovely little book that I would recommend to anyone who wishes to introduce a little history and some of life's unhappy lessons to a child growing up whilst still keeping them happy.

I love the alternative narrative voice, which resulted in the novel being a 'breath of fresh air' to read. As cliche as that phrase may be, it truly does describe this simple, yet poignant tale of a young girl. I would definitely reccommend the book to everyone as I feel it is a story that we could all relate to with empathy.

When 'The Book Thief' gets interesting it's ok but it takes about 200 pages out of about a 500 page book to do so. I don't recommend this book at all.

I was deeply moved by this, mostly because of the innocence of the children as they struggle to understand the barbaric cruelty and intolerance of adults. Fortunately this cruelty is more than balanced by the wonderful humanity of Papa Huberman, who gives the reader faith that people can do the right thing in such oppressive conditions. The narration from Death is an excellent device as it often warns of future events and then tricks at the last moment. However, nothing can prepare for the heart-rending conclusion, which had me weeping uncontrollably for such loss and such hope.

A truly wonderful novel.

The book starts with a 9 year old girl callen Liesel Meminger who loses her brother and at the funeral steals a book from a gravedigger. She has to be fostered because her mum is being taken away and her foster-father teaches her to read. She becomes friends with her neighbour Rudy. The book is amazing and a great read - I would recommend any teenager or adult to read this.

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.