Reviews tagging 'War'

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

439 reviews

featheredpages07's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

By far one of my all time favorite reads ever. I can relate to the characters as my historical/cultural background is that of the opressed. I bawled at the end and have never taken this book for granted.. it has much to teach and much to share. I would read it again and again and hope my future children will appreciate this book as I have. This book is otherworldly and touches deeply, the words and pages not afraid to be challenging to take in. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Deportation, Genocide, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Death, and War

A unique read as it is narrated by the personification of "Death"

balzi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Very deep and personal look at WWII and the probable story of many Germans 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Self harm, Physical abuse, War, Suicide, Racism, Racial slurs, Genocide, Deportation, Death of parent, Death, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Cursing, Child death, Chronic illness, Body horror, Antisemitism, and Alcohol

blinky13's review against another edition

dark informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.5

Really amazing book that includes many perspectives (including the narrator being Death) during the Holocaust. Heart-breaking but such an important read and I definitely would recommend it!!! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War and Death

Moderate: Genocide, Child death, Violence, Death of parent, Antisemitism, and Gun violence

jamiejanae_6's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, War, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death of parent, Death, Suicide, Child death, Confinement, Grief, and Blood

bludgeoned_by_hail's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I honestly don't even really know what to say. An absolute triumph in every way.
The Book Thief is about many things: it's about the power of words, about war, its cogs and consequences, about World War II in specific, about civilians and quiet resistance, about friendship, about family and community, about life, death and existence, but mainly, it's about humans. 
As such, it is funny, bleak, lighthearted and unbelievably heavy, hopeful and hopeless, without the slightest tonal whiplash. The writing is striking, unique, and masterful, relaying this ridiculously ambitious story of contradictions without somehow ever becoming preachy, stilted or boring even for a second.
Beautiful, haunting book. Recommended to everyone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism and Genocide

Moderate: War, Suicide, and Child death

kissreka03's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, War, Death, Child death, and Death of parent

shoshi824's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Cursing, War, Death, Child death, Antisemitism, Suicide, and Religious bigotry

essie85's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, War, and Suicide

ishkodeke's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad 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? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Racism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Self harm, Suicide, Gore, Grief, Physical abuse, Antisemitism, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Violence, War, Child death, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Racial slurs

maratagon's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful sad 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Hate crime, Child death, Antisemitism, and Death of parent