I first heard about The Book Thief one morning last spring (2006) on Good Morning, America. Charlie Gibson, my all-time favorite newsman, had read the book and was interviewing the author, Markus Zusak. Apparently, Charlie had been captivated by the book and couldn’t say enough good things about it. So, I decided that if the book was good enough for Charlie, it was good enough for me. That same day I went online and purchased a copy from Amazon.
In an effort not to “reinvent the wheel,” I’m going to include the synopsis of the book written by School Library Journal which can be found on Amazon.com:
From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 9 Up–Zusak has created a work that deserves the attention of sophisticated teen and adult readers. Death himself narrates the World War II-era story of Liesel Meminger from the time she is taken, at age nine, to live in Molching, Germany, with a foster family in a working-class neighborhood of tough kids, acid-tongued mothers, and loving fathers who earn their living by the work of their hands. The child arrives having just stolen her first book–although she has not yet learned how to read–and her foster father uses it, The Gravediggers Handbook, to lull her to sleep when she’s roused by regular nightmares about her younger brothers death. Across the ensuing years of the late 1930s and into the 1940s, Liesel collects more stolen books as well as a peculiar set of friends: the boy Rudy, the Jewish refugee Max, the mayor’s reclusive wife (who has a whole library from which she allows Liesel to steal), and especially her foster parents. Zusak not only creates a mesmerizing and original story but also writes with poetic syntax, causing readers to deliberate over phrases and lines, even as the action impels them forward. Death is not a sentimental storyteller, but he does attend to an array of satisfying details, giving Liesel’s story all the nuances of chance, folly, and fulfilled expectation that it deserves. An extraordinary narrative.–Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. www.amazon.com
I must admit that I wasn’t immediately taken with the book. The prose seemed a bit flowery and the subject matter was intense, but I was determined to persevere for Charlie’s sake. I just knew he couldn’t have steered me wrong. Then, at some point–though I’m not sure exactly when–I found myself engrossed in the story. I know it sounds cliche, but once I got into it, I could not put the book down. I wanted to know what was going to happen to these people. And, I say “people” not “characters” because I started thinking of this as a story about real, flesh-and-blood people during the Holocaust. It was almost as if I was reading a memoir and not a work of fiction. I cared about them, I cared about their stories, and I even started caring about Death. By the end of the book, I was emotionally drained and sobbing. Not crying. Sobbing.
To be honest, I don’t feel that I can adequately explain why I was so touched by this story. But I was truly touched. Maybe it was because I realized this story could very easily have been true–a little girl losing her family during a war and her attempts to survive and make sense of a world that had gone mad. Even though Liesel Meminger and the other characters were fictional, many aspects of their stories were not. Unfortunately, today we know the truth of World War II, Hitler’s regime, and the horror and human cost of the Holocaust. The Book Thief expertly mirrored this time in history when people were trying to survive in an upside-down world. It was not hard to imagine that these were real people enduring atrocities that no one should ever have to endure. How could I not be moved by the images the story evokes knowing what I know about that era?
And, the prose that at first seemed flowery and over-the-top gradually began to make sense not only as a literary technique but also as an integral part of the story. Zusak, through his word choice and literary style, tried to demonstrate what a powerful effect words can have on people. Liesel was able to calm her neighbors by reading to them while they were seeking refuge from air raids. Through his speeches, Hitler was able to convince the masses to turn on their Jewish friends and neighbors and to commit genocide. Through his words, Zusak made me care about his story and feel emotionally bound to his characters. Zusak showed that words can change lives–both for good and for evil. Words wield immense power.
This book was marketed for young adults, but I think quite a few children in that age bracket (12+ years old) would miss many of the subtle nuances of the book and find it difficult to read the entire novel. Even as an adult, I had to reread passages to get the full impact of what the author was saying. However,even though it was not easy reading, it was excellent and profound reading. I often forget what I’ve read as soon as I finish a book, but The Book Thief has stuck with me for over a year. Some of the details are hazy, but I cannot forget the emotional impact the story had on me. I have recommended it to at least ten people and have even gone so far as to buy copies for friends because I think it is truly worth reading. If you go to Amazon.com, you will see that over 150 people have written reviews of this book and the vast majority give it 5 out of 5 stars. So, I’m not alone in thinking this is a book worth checking out.
**The book contains profanity.
Ruth - Rock Hill ISBN 0375831002
Comments(0)
I just finished 
FBI Agent Bernadette Saint Clare has been transfered from one FBI office to another ever since she began using her psychic ability to solve crimes. Sometimes she’s able to brilliantly solve a crime and sometimes she misinterprets what she “sees” and embarasses herself and the bureau. She is finally transferred to St. Paul, MN, where her boss is willing to give her the benefit of the doubt as long as she keeps him informed of her visions and her actions. In St. Paul she quickly becomes involved with several murders where the victim is beaten, a hand is removed and the person left for dead. Bernadette uses conventional and unconventional means to find the killer and stop him, all while settling in to her new job and new home. I think this is the author’s first book and I really enjoyed it, especially the ending.
Sir Edward collapses and dies at his London home, in the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests.
I like reading mysteries set in the South.
