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4.46 AVERAGE
4.46 AVERAGE
This was a book club read. Because of the subject matter I probably wouldn't have read it otherwise. However, this is truly an amazing book. Very very sad (though I think you go into it knowing that's going to be the case), but the writing is extraordinary. The book is filled with very high highs, and very low lows. It's all about the characters and how they interact with each other. If you're a book lover it's an extra bonus because you relate to the story with that extra depth. Death as the narrator is obviously unusual, but I thought his/her 'voice' was very well done. Death was pragmatic, but with a heart. I appreciated that Death was taken aback when he/she felt any sentimentality. This book captured my imagination immediately and I had trouble putting it down. Highly recommend.
Takes awhile to get drawn into this book. Not a pick-up-and-put-down book, but still a great read.
I read this book in 2007 but remembered so little about it. This book is amazing , moving and ripped my heart out and ground it into the rubble on Himmel street.
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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:
No
No, just no. Okay listen the writing wasn’t bad. I found it engaging and easy to read for the most part but WHY was it so LONG???? This could’ve easily been like 300 pages. It was constantly dragged out and I just wanted it to end. I constantly thought of DNFing this but stopped myself bc my kindle percentage was persuading me that I was so close to finishing this book. Just watch the movie and call it a day.
reflective
sad
fast-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
This book really takes you into how it would feel to live in Germany during World War 2. You feel for all the characters, as you watch them struggle, and overcome their struggles. I would suggest that history teachers read or have their students read this book. Coming from the point of view of death, however it is a child that we are learning about, students will really connect to the young girl. I would recommend this book to not only students but anyone and everyone. Well done.
i thought it was one of the most amazingly written books i've ever read.
I loved how it was all narrated by death and I loved how Markus Zusak had written every detail in the most beautiful way.
simply loved the relationship between Leisel and Max as well as Leisel and Rudy <3 my favorite character *_*
it made me cry.
I loved how it was all narrated by death and I loved how Markus Zusak had written every detail in the most beautiful way.
simply loved the relationship between Leisel and Max as well as Leisel and Rudy <3 my favorite character *_*
it made me cry.
One of my favorite books of all time! Such a good story. I’ve read this multiple times and watched (and loved) the movie. So good.
This book is narrated by Death. Why? I’ve got no clue.
Death becomes obsessed by a Germany girl who happens to steal a few books. He calls her the Book thief and watches her life in Nazi Germany. You’d think Death as a narrator in WWII Europe would be interesting, and it could be. But it wasn’t. All Death does is rant about Liesl and the books she steals. Death’s position as the narrator is so under-used that you forget it during the book, until he makes some remark, and you get confused because who is talking? Ah! Death. Right.
This book would have been more interesting if either Death showed the horror of the war or if we saw Nazi Germany through the eyes of a German child. Liesl with a little more personality and backstory? Would have been great. It would also have explained the lack of information, because of course a child would not know what was going on. But Death would. He’s the one shepherding all the souls. But he doesn’t explain a thing. They go from Jewish stores being closed down to Jews marching the streets on their way to concentration camps. Not a mention of those either (where Death would certainly be). This lack of information would have been justified if it were Liesl narrating. But it wasn’t.
Death is also obsessed with colours. He names the colours he sees when he picks up souls. It is never explained why, and it didn’t make the story better. He also stops doing this towards the ending. Why? No clue.
Liesl’s family hides a Jew, Max. Suddenly Max has to leave. Max survives the war, they reunite. And that’s it. You’d think hiding a Jew would have a much bigger impact on a family, but no. Max is in the basement, Max leaves, that’s about it. It’s clear that this family was anti-Nazi, but it wasn’t shown except for Max in their basement. This should have been an event of much bigger impact. But if you’d leave it out of the story, there wouldn’t be a hole.
Then there’s the timeline. These random jumps in time, where Death spoils the ones who will die, are confusing. Would have very much appreciated if it were chronological and without the spoilers of who dies. The only thing done right in this case are the deaths of Rosa and Hans. For sure did not see these coming, but since Death was so consistent in telling us who died, it felt like a mistake. Like the writer forgot to spoil those two.
I gave this book three stars, because it wasn’t bad. I did enjoy most of it an I adored Hans and the relationship between him and Liesl. It’s just that the book could have been better. It would have stood stronger if we had seen the story through the eyes of a child. This book left me torn.
Death becomes obsessed by a Germany girl who happens to steal a few books. He calls her the Book thief and watches her life in Nazi Germany. You’d think Death as a narrator in WWII Europe would be interesting, and it could be. But it wasn’t. All Death does is rant about Liesl and the books she steals. Death’s position as the narrator is so under-used that you forget it during the book, until he makes some remark, and you get confused because who is talking? Ah! Death. Right.
This book would have been more interesting if either Death showed the horror of the war or if we saw Nazi Germany through the eyes of a German child. Liesl with a little more personality and backstory? Would have been great. It would also have explained the lack of information, because of course a child would not know what was going on. But Death would. He’s the one shepherding all the souls. But he doesn’t explain a thing. They go from Jewish stores being closed down to Jews marching the streets on their way to concentration camps. Not a mention of those either (where Death would certainly be). This lack of information would have been justified if it were Liesl narrating. But it wasn’t.
Death is also obsessed with colours. He names the colours he sees when he picks up souls. It is never explained why, and it didn’t make the story better. He also stops doing this towards the ending. Why? No clue.
Liesl’s family hides a Jew, Max. Suddenly Max has to leave. Max survives the war, they reunite. And that’s it. You’d think hiding a Jew would have a much bigger impact on a family, but no. Max is in the basement, Max leaves, that’s about it. It’s clear that this family was anti-Nazi, but it wasn’t shown except for Max in their basement. This should have been an event of much bigger impact. But if you’d leave it out of the story, there wouldn’t be a hole.
Then there’s the timeline. These random jumps in time, where Death spoils the ones who will die, are confusing. Would have very much appreciated if it were chronological and without the spoilers of who dies. The only thing done right in this case are the deaths of Rosa and Hans. For sure did not see these coming, but since Death was so consistent in telling us who died, it felt like a mistake. Like the writer forgot to spoil those two.
I gave this book three stars, because it wasn’t bad. I did enjoy most of it an I adored Hans and the relationship between him and Liesl. It’s just that the book could have been better. It would have stood stronger if we had seen the story through the eyes of a child. This book left me torn.