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nel0nen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Genocide, Antisemitism, Death, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Grief, Torture, Alcohol, Suicide, Child death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Slavery
niki258devil_angel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Grief, Antisemitism, Blood, Death, War, Torture, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Death of parent, Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Genocide, and Violence
fuzzygazelle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Such a beautiful and timely book. I knew it was going to make me cry once I started getting attached to the characters but I didn't think i would ugly sob. But everyone is so lovable, the character progression of the Huberman family, Liesel and Rudy's growths, Liesel's relationship with everyone. It's funny at times and it's light-hearted when we are just seeing their lives and it makes it real. The narration is also really nice and unique and Death's propensity to spoil things just makes it even more tense. It's so beautifully tragic and sad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, War, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Xenophobia, Suicide, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Genocide, Death, Child death, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Medical content, Death of parent, and Hate crime
Moderate: Abandonment, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Slavery, Bullying, and Gore
Minor: Alcoholism and Alcohol
bookishchristiana's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”
&
“Like most misery, it started with apparent happiness.”
&
“It kills me sometimes, how people die.” - Markus Zusak, The Book Thief.
To begin with, there are so many more quotes I could have put at the start of this post. This book is beautifully written, perhaps the most beautiful I've ever read. I know I'm extremely late to the party, but I absolutely loved The Book Thief. The premise, a story about Nazi Germany told from the perspective of death and a young girl, is so original and it is executed immaculately. It portrays the beauty but also evil of humanity so so well; how we were all pure young children once but we grow to love and hate so much. The horrors of Nazi Germany are not shied away from, they are front and centre. Despite this, I think the book is truly about a child's capacity to love those around them, despite the horrors. The main cast of characters are so loveable and human in the best way. That doesn't negate the terrible things happening around them, they continue throughout and are awful to read. Conversely to our main cast, we are also shown the true horrors humans inflict on one another. The hatred instilled in such a large population was and is terrifying, demonstrating how characters and real people are also human in the worst way. I think, considering the things occurring in our world today (the Palestinian genocide to name perhaps the most prominent one on our minds at the moment), this book continues to be painfully relevant. The lessons learned and the things considered in The Book Thief cannot and should not be forgotten. This literary masterpiece is so so important, I'm only sad I didn't read it sooner. To describe this book in a single sentence, I would say that this book is about humanity at its best and worst. I adored it and it devastated me (I cried so much at the end). This review may have been a bit of a ramble but I hope I got my main points across. If you haven't read this yet, please do, and if you have, read it again! - C x
&
“Like most misery, it started with apparent happiness.”
&
“It kills me sometimes, how people die.” - Markus Zusak, The Book Thief.
To begin with, there are so many more quotes I could have put at the start of this post. This book is beautifully written, perhaps the most beautiful I've ever read. I know I'm extremely late to the party, but I absolutely loved The Book Thief. The premise, a story about Nazi Germany told from the perspective of death and a young girl, is so original and it is executed immaculately. It portrays the beauty but also evil of humanity so so well; how we were all pure young children once but we grow to love and hate so much. The horrors of Nazi Germany are not shied away from, they are front and centre. Despite this, I think the book is truly about a child's capacity to love those around them, despite the horrors. The main cast of characters are so loveable and human in the best way. That doesn't negate the terrible things happening around them, they continue throughout and are awful to read. Conversely to our main cast, we are also shown the true horrors humans inflict on one another. The hatred instilled in such a large population was and is terrifying, demonstrating how characters and real people are also human in the worst way. I think, considering the things occurring in our world today (the Palestinian genocide to name perhaps the most prominent one on our minds at the moment), this book continues to be painfully relevant. The lessons learned and the things considered in The Book Thief cannot and should not be forgotten. This literary masterpiece is so so important, I'm only sad I didn't read it sooner. To describe this book in a single sentence, I would say that this book is about humanity at its best and worst. I adored it and it devastated me (I cried so much at the end). This review may have been a bit of a ramble but I hope I got my main points across. If you haven't read this yet, please do, and if you have, read it again! - C x
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Religious bigotry, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Murder, Antisemitism, War, Genocide, and Slavery
julaeva's review against another edition
dark
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Slavery, and Physical abuse
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Suicide
iarlais's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
One of, if not the easiest 10/10 I've ever given in my life.
It's embarrassing that I should even try and write this review. Associating my pitiful prose with this magnificent masterpiece just feels wrong. It's describing the indescribable, articulating the appearance of a biblical angel.
But I did say I'd try, and it fits in that this book is full of triers. Spoilers ahead, because I'd find it hard to get into why this is a perfect piece of literature without delving into the plot.
I'll say the first of many obvious things and proclaim Death to be the greatest narrator of all time, and for The Book Thief to contain the greatest characterisation of death ever. I really do think it holds an indisputable claim to that throne. Death isn't exactly kind, but he's far from harsh or cruel. He's consistently sensible and rational. Hearing about someone who tries to enjoy the little things in life (maybe the wrong word) while going about his depressing job is greatly compelling, and it makes him feel very human, though I suppose telling him that would make him feel haunted. A friend of mine put it nicely when he said "It's the difference between a god of death and a god of the dead." Death here very clearly falls into the latter category, whereas Castlevania, or Puss in Boots 2's Death(s) fall into the former. Personally, after reading or watching versions of the entity where he's a mad murdering machine, it's so novel to read about an incarnation of this spirit that's again, not kind, but sympathetic to the plight of others.
So that's a whole paragraph on the narrator. Like I'm telling ya, this is just an impossible work to adequately review. If I'm not careful, I'll write a Wikipedia synopsis.
How about our characters? Well, when Himmel Street isn't being bombed, or marched on by Nazis with tortured Jews in tow, we've got an entirely character-driven story on our hands, and that is honestly such a rare accomplishment. It's so difficult to write a story where almost everything revolves around a character's motivations and not the events that surrounds them, but this is an exceptional work of art, after all. Everybody in this novel is so unbelievably fleshed out. Every chapter builds character, or if not, pushes the story forward, which results in some astounding pacing. Nothing is drawn-out, Death wants you to spend as many moments with the community of Himmel Street as possible.
The motifs are truly brilliant too. The book's foreshadowing is immaculate, and when it foregoes foreshadowing for outright telling you the ending, you'd think it'd ruin said ending but it somehow only strengthens it. I don't really know how Zuzak does it, but my theory is as follows: informing the reader of the ending lessens the shock value, true, but the shock isn't what he values. He drops the knowledge of the ending so that the reader can appreciate the time they have with Himmel Street more. It's like, I don't know, appreciating your last moments with a loved one because you know a certain someone is preparing to whisk a soul away. Since the character building is already so effective, it makes the inevitable conclusion that haunts us in the leadup all the more impactful. Two of Zuzak's many strengths working in tandem.
Liesel Meminger acts a great protagonist of my favourite fictional book ever written. Having a coming-of-age story set within a time where morality and kindness is so crucial is genius. Hans, Rosa, Max and her make for such a beautiful family, the strong beating heart that gives the book its blood. They are the core, and she is the core's core.
But I've saved the best for last. What truly makes this novel stand out from any I've ever read is its command of languages. Zuzak is an absolute fiend for using words in new and mind-boggling ways. I felt my jaw drop so many times during my reading, not so much for the plot as the awe-inspiring use of his vocabulary. I genuinely do not understand how someone can be so creative with words that have existed for hundreds of years, he truly makes the English language his personal weapon of choice in his quest to astound.
That's my attempt done anyways. The Book Thief is one of the finest works of art ever conceived. I see no reason why this shouldn't be held to the same acclaim as any classical text that survives to today. Plain and simple, it's a masterpiece, and I think I will be kept waiting for some time before I find a contender to its spot as my favourite literary work of fiction ever written.
It's embarrassing that I should even try and write this review. Associating my pitiful prose with this magnificent masterpiece just feels wrong. It's describing the indescribable, articulating the appearance of a biblical angel.
But I did say I'd try, and it fits in that this book is full of triers. Spoilers ahead, because I'd find it hard to get into why this is a perfect piece of literature without delving into the plot.
I'll say the first of many obvious things and proclaim Death to be the greatest narrator of all time, and for The Book Thief to contain the greatest characterisation of death ever. I really do think it holds an indisputable claim to that throne. Death isn't exactly kind, but he's far from harsh or cruel. He's consistently sensible and rational. Hearing about someone who tries to enjoy the little things in life (maybe the wrong word) while going about his depressing job is greatly compelling, and it makes him feel very human, though I suppose telling him that would make him feel haunted. A friend of mine put it nicely when he said "It's the difference between a god of death and a god of the dead." Death here very clearly falls into the latter category, whereas Castlevania, or Puss in Boots 2's Death(s) fall into the former. Personally, after reading or watching versions of the entity where he's a mad murdering machine, it's so novel to read about an incarnation of this spirit that's again, not kind, but sympathetic to the plight of others.
So that's a whole paragraph on the narrator. Like I'm telling ya, this is just an impossible work to adequately review. If I'm not careful, I'll write a Wikipedia synopsis.
How about our characters? Well, when Himmel Street isn't being bombed, or marched on by Nazis with tortured Jews in tow, we've got an entirely character-driven story on our hands, and that is honestly such a rare accomplishment. It's so difficult to write a story where almost everything revolves around a character's motivations and not the events that surrounds them, but this is an exceptional work of art, after all. Everybody in this novel is so unbelievably fleshed out. Every chapter builds character, or if not, pushes the story forward, which results in some astounding pacing. Nothing is drawn-out, Death wants you to spend as many moments with the community of Himmel Street as possible.
The motifs are truly brilliant too. The book's foreshadowing is immaculate, and when it foregoes foreshadowing for outright telling you the ending, you'd think it'd ruin said ending but it somehow only strengthens it. I don't really know how Zuzak does it, but my theory is as follows: informing the reader of the ending lessens the shock value, true, but the shock isn't what he values. He drops the knowledge of the ending so that the reader can appreciate the time they have with Himmel Street more. It's like, I don't know, appreciating your last moments with a loved one because you know a certain someone is preparing to whisk a soul away. Since the character building is already so effective, it makes the inevitable conclusion that haunts us in the leadup all the more impactful. Two of Zuzak's many strengths working in tandem.
Liesel Meminger acts a great protagonist of my favourite fictional book ever written. Having a coming-of-age story set within a time where morality and kindness is so crucial is genius. Hans, Rosa, Max and her make for such a beautiful family, the strong beating heart that gives the book its blood. They are the core, and she is the core's core.
But I've saved the best for last. What truly makes this novel stand out from any I've ever read is its command of languages. Zuzak is an absolute fiend for using words in new and mind-boggling ways. I felt my jaw drop so many times during my reading, not so much for the plot as the awe-inspiring use of his vocabulary. I genuinely do not understand how someone can be so creative with words that have existed for hundreds of years, he truly makes the English language his personal weapon of choice in his quest to astound.
That's my attempt done anyways. The Book Thief is one of the finest works of art ever conceived. I see no reason why this shouldn't be held to the same acclaim as any classical text that survives to today. Plain and simple, it's a masterpiece, and I think I will be kept waiting for some time before I find a contender to its spot as my favourite literary work of fiction ever written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Gore, Child death, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Slavery
Moderate: Genocide
k4iyuuu's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation, Violence, War, Bullying, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Slavery
It’s about the n@zi Germany so yeaha_d_maillet's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Genocide, Slavery, War, Child death, Death, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Grief
bookmark3brodi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Deportation, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Child death, Colonisation, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Physical abuse, War, Abandonment, and Blood
percys_panda_pillow_pet's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I don't know how to feel about this book. It is 2023 and I have finally read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This has been a long time coming. I had heard quite a bit about the book when it became a movie, and many have touted it as a modern classic, some teachers in the U.S. teaching it to their classes alongside Fahrenheit 451 and Romeo and Juliet. It has great critical acclaims and many of my close friends love it a lot.
Still, I cannot help but think I was...not disappointed but perhaps unenlightened, might be the best word here. Forgive me if I get a tad poetic here with my writing, I just think at least in my language I can do justice to a book that has done so much for others that it could not do for me. At this time in my life, I have already read several first-hand accounts of WWII, particularly from either the US or Jewish perspectives. Night by Elie Wiesel that I read in 8th grade comes to mind, a popular reading for school. I just don't think The Book Thief was necessary for me to read now.
Don't get me wrong, the novel isn't terrible by any means, and my star rating will reflect that feeling, but I don't need it. I know there are some out there that do, and that is where the book's value lies. I didn't need it to tell me there were good people in Germany at the time, I didn't need it to tell me there are innocents on both sides, to show me the absolute tragedy war is. I already knew all that and more. Zusak's writing is beautiful, and while the story was a bit slow-paced in the first quarter of the novel, I really zoomed through the rest of it, sitting on the edge of my seat when the tension was the highest. He really is an accomplished author, knowing exactly when to make a new section and ratchet up suspense for the reader. But when all was said and done, I felt myself questioning, "What else?" Sure, it's an important story, no doubt about that. But I wanted to know about the afterward. How do you come back from all that sorrow and anguish and persecution?
WWII books love to go on and on about the Holocaust and its effects, good to learn about absolutely, but I want to know about those who survived the camps, where did they go? What about the propaganda? That doesn't disappear overnight. Neither does the hatred. I'm just sort of done with stories like this, or The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I'm done with the pain. I need hope too.
Still, I cannot help but think I was...not disappointed but perhaps unenlightened, might be the best word here. Forgive me if I get a tad poetic here with my writing, I just think at least in my language I can do justice to a book that has done so much for others that it could not do for me. At this time in my life, I have already read several first-hand accounts of WWII, particularly from either the US or Jewish perspectives. Night by Elie Wiesel that I read in 8th grade comes to mind, a popular reading for school. I just don't think The Book Thief was necessary for me to read now.
Don't get me wrong, the novel isn't terrible by any means, and my star rating will reflect that feeling, but I don't need it. I know there are some out there that do, and that is where the book's value lies. I didn't need it to tell me there were good people in Germany at the time, I didn't need it to tell me there are innocents on both sides, to show me the absolute tragedy war is. I already knew all that and more. Zusak's writing is beautiful, and while the story was a bit slow-paced in the first quarter of the novel, I really zoomed through the rest of it, sitting on the edge of my seat when the tension was the highest. He really is an accomplished author, knowing exactly when to make a new section and ratchet up suspense for the reader. But when all was said and done, I felt myself questioning, "What else?" Sure, it's an important story, no doubt about that. But I wanted to know about the afterward. How do you come back from all that sorrow and anguish and persecution?
WWII books love to go on and on about the Holocaust and its effects, good to learn about absolutely, but I want to know about those who survived the camps, where did they go? What about the propaganda? That doesn't disappear overnight. Neither does the hatred. I'm just sort of done with stories like this, or The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I'm done with the pain. I need hope too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Death, Death of parent, Child death, Police brutality, and War
Moderate: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Slavery