Last week I reviewed a novel called “I am the messenger” by Markus Zusak. I decided that since that book was so awesome, I would read and review another one of his novels. So this
week I’m reviewing “the book thief” by Markus Zusak.
This novel is narrated by “death”, I found that quite interesting. Death is represented as a conscious being, with emotions and morals. In this novel death is not evil but wise and fair. It is very strange to have a narrator that is all knowing and constantly jumps through time, a narrator who knows the ending before the story begins, but I found it quite enjoyable.
Despite the narrator being death the protagonist of this story is a 9 year old girl named Liesel. She is a poor girl growing up with her foster parents in Nazi Germany, this is a story of her growing up and discovery the different aspects of life and books-something she can not resist.
This novel reminded me of “to kill a mockingbird” with the way society is explored though the perspective of maturing children. This story is moving and beautifully written.
One of my favorite things about this novel was how death believed that humans are evil but at the same time capable of great beauty. I would recommend this to anyone 14+ and enjoys reading; I give this novel a 5/5.
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it
as long as there's books to read 🙂
When I saw the reviews for this Book the story line grabbed my attention. I have put off reading the Book since it was a young adult selection. But curiosity got the better of me and I used it as my selection for my Book club. To my surprise another member was planning on using it as her next pick. We all agreed it was a wonderful story and we especially enjoyed the characters. Papa has the heart of an angel and stays true to his beliefs in the hardest of times. And while Mama is harsh you are given glimpses that she is really a loving mother. Liesel and Rudy's life set in another decade is not so unusual. They sturggle at school, play with friends in the street, and get into a fair bit of mischief. The story mixed with the complecations and hardships of the war pulls you in. I was interested at every turn how the people in her life would affect her and how she would stay true to the person inside….just like Papa. I am glad I took a chance on what I classify as "popular fiction". I thought the characters were delightful and each shown for their quirkiness. And the history was entwined in the story enough to add but not too much to distract. A lovely read.
yeah, i agree completely with what you had to say, the thing i found really amazing about this book is that by half way through it there is enough foreshodow to predict the ending, yet i never lost interest, the novel remained suspenceful till the end
Students – Post comments about TBTH.
The Book Thief was an interesting book. It was all over the place which was a nice change from all the other books out there. All the foreshadowing from the beginning to the middle was at times unnessesary. With Death as the narrator, it made the book more exciting. When they would go from his point of view to back to Liesel's life, and her book stealing. Hans was a quite man with a huge heart, and it should. The way he treated Liesel, was like he was actually her father, not her foster father. They had this special connection that no one could possably understand. The way Liesel stole her books is like nothing I've ever heard. The first from the day her brother died to the next when its burning. Then stealing books from Ilsa's library through the window, when she could have come through the front door. This book is great, and I would definetly recommend it.