Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

198 reviews

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

cecinamo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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? Yes

5.0

Absolutely beautiful, but very sad. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, War, Child death, Antisemitism, Blood, Torture, Violence, Child abuse, Suicide, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Genocide, Murder, and Physical abuse

nicolelilac's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Antisemitism, and War

Minor: Death of parent and Suicide

readmekate's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

4.25

This is a classic book. I went in understanding the premise but expecting a ya book that skirts around the edges of darker topics. For the most part it doesn't. Also the writing is so beautiful, and I cried at the end!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism and War

Minor: Death of parent, Child death, and Suicide

jdanby's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.5

I’m a sucker for WWII historical fiction and this one was good. I liked that it was from the POV of Death and his commentary on humanity and war was poignant.

It was just a tad too slow side for me though.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Death of parent, and Grief

Minor: Child death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

thegillbird's review

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

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

Minor: Suicide

lyeve's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring medium-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

4.0

Beautifully heartbreaking.
As you follow the story of Liesel ("the book thief"), you slowly realize every horror the Holocaust caused, including to the German population. The poverty, the obligation to follow the rules set by Hitler, not knowing what exactly is happening, the helplessness. But also trying to make the best of what they had and living in the moment. 

The use of death as a narrator scared me at first, as it seemed like an almost cliche trope that could easily go wrong. Yet, it surprisingly works. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia and Death

Moderate: War, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse

octagon's review

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Antisemitism, Suicide, Death, Grief, and Police brutality

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Genocide, and Violence

Minor: Child abuse

lexilovesreadingandlaufey's review

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? It's complicated

5.0

I have never cried while reading a book before, but this got me. I cried and this book will forever be in my heart. I, myself, am "Jewish Blood" and it breaks my heart reading this story about Liesel. I definitely recommend to anyone.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Grief, Genocide, War, Death of parent, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Child abuse, and Suicide

sierraclimbs's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense fast-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

This story was completely enchanting from the moment I pressed play on the audiobook. It somehow takes such a widely known event (the Holocaust) & tells a beautiful and tragic story from a unique perspective, Death. Because the story is narrated by Death, it gives a somewhat neutral perspective on the horrific events which I felt really let the reader experience the time for what it was, rather than a bias narrator. (Not that I think there is any gray area around the right & wrong of the holocaust. More so that it allows you to get in the headspace of just being a human living through that time. Rather than it being a historical retelling where you know what is the right & wrong choice) 
It was a truly raw & human experience reading this book. 
Highly recommend the audiobook. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Child death, Death, Child abuse, Bullying, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Suicide, and Vomit

I find none of the content was excessive or exaggerated for shock value. If anything, it felt very thought out & deliberate to depict a reality of a horrific time period.