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kyarabereading's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
This is one of my favorite books of all time. No book has brought a tear to my eye quite like this one, even after having read it multiple times. The first few times I read it, I didn't have as full an understanding as I do now. I think it made this book hurt so much more this time around. The Book Thief tells a beautiful story that is as painful, tragic, and honest as it is heartwarming, inspiring, and at times, even funny.
I love the attention to detail Zusak clearly put into this book. This is a book that seems like it took a lot of Zusak's time and research - and all that hard work truly paid off. Everything is so, so real. The characters, the location, the historical events - they all create a story that is so incredibly real. So, so honest. It makes you fall in love with the characters. It makes you feel their pain. It makes it hurt that much more when they're hurt, especially when you realize this story was a reality for many people in 1940s Germany. This book does not sugarcoat the effects of the Holocaust or everyone's participation in it - everyone from the Hitler fanatic to the complaisant supporter. It does not sugarcoat how WWII hurt so many people. It's tragic to see how all this built up, to see what people did because of fear and hatred. What they did for survival.
I also love the creative choices Zusak makes in this book. For one, having Death as a narrator was a choice that really strengthened the book as a whole. Death as a narrator along with Zusak's way with words (along with his writing style and structure and loveable characters and etc., etc., etc.) is a combination that formed some of the most beautiful writing I have seen. Zusak also showed us how all the stories, all the moments in this book are intertwined with each other. I like how some stories remind us of things we have already seen or provide us with foreshadowing for what is coming up. It makes this book entertaining to read every single time.
I think what I love the most about this book is what it teaches us. It is a study of humanity and human nature from a distant point of view. Death is amazed by, terrified by, interested in humans. To quote the book directly, Death is "haunted" by us. It makes me think about my own humanity and that of the people around me. But it does not just make me think about the bad side of humanity, it makes me think about all the good too. The book reminds me of all the beautiful parts of other human beings - people's selflessness, kindness, trust, love, etc., etc., etc. The book also teaches the importance of words. They can be influential. They can be harmful. They can be helpful. They can be life-changing. They can be used as a weapon, but they can also be used for good.
Markus Zusak wrote a book that is so beautifully written and impactful. May I never forget how it made me feel. May I never forget his words.
I love the attention to detail Zusak clearly put into this book. This is a book that seems like it took a lot of Zusak's time and research - and all that hard work truly paid off. Everything is so, so real. The characters, the location, the historical events - they all create a story that is so incredibly real. So, so honest. It makes you fall in love with the characters. It makes you feel their pain. It makes it hurt that much more when they're hurt, especially when you realize this story was a reality for many people in 1940s Germany. This book does not sugarcoat the effects of the Holocaust or everyone's participation in it - everyone from the Hitler fanatic to the complaisant supporter. It does not sugarcoat how WWII hurt so many people. It's tragic to see how all this built up, to see what people did because of fear and hatred. What they did for survival.
I also love the creative choices Zusak makes in this book. For one, having Death as a narrator was a choice that really strengthened the book as a whole. Death as a narrator along with Zusak's way with words (along with his writing style and structure and loveable characters and etc., etc., etc.) is a combination that formed some of the most beautiful writing I have seen. Zusak also showed us how all the stories, all the moments in this book are intertwined with each other. I like how some stories remind us of things we have already seen or provide us with foreshadowing for what is coming up. It makes this book entertaining to read every single time.
I think what I love the most about this book is what it teaches us. It is a study of humanity and human nature from a distant point of view. Death is amazed by, terrified by, interested in humans. To quote the book directly, Death is "haunted" by us. It makes me think about my own humanity and that of the people around me. But it does not just make me think about the bad side of humanity, it makes me think about all the good too. The book reminds me of all the beautiful parts of other human beings - people's selflessness, kindness, trust, love, etc., etc., etc. The book also teaches the importance of words. They can be influential. They can be harmful. They can be helpful. They can be life-changing. They can be used as a weapon, but they can also be used for good.
Markus Zusak wrote a book that is so beautifully written and impactful. May I never forget how it made me feel. May I never forget his words.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Excrement and Alcohol
kaitlynnnng's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
July was a very busy month for me, and, as a result, I wasn’t able to read as often as I would’ve liked. It took me nearly two weeks to read this book, and, usually, when I go days between reading sessions, it’s hard for me to get back into the story. That was not the case for this book! Although it was slower-paced, the writing style, the characters, and the narrator kept me invested.
I smiled, I thought, and I cried…a lot.
I really enjoyed many things about this book, but especially Liesel’s healthy relationships, especially with Hans and Max.
I smiled, I thought, and I cried…a lot.
I really enjoyed many things about this book, but especially Liesel’s healthy relationships, especially with Hans and Max.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and War
Moderate: Child death, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Abandonment
brownieboo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Abandonment, and Colonisation
Minor: Cursing, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism
aisling872's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide and Antisemitism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and War
Minor: Cursing
bonepennies's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is good, I am upset I haven't read it sooner !!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Death
The holocaust and discussions of the bombings of cities is a very present topicali_k0's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Abandonment, and War
hazydazywaffles's review against another edition
The beginning was pretty good, a bit confusing but beautifully written. I was excited, however, there are many curse words in it in both English and german. I'm really picky when it comes to books with cursing in them and so i just decised this wasn't the book for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
hoarde_of_words's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, and Alcohol
heuteschongekurtet's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Suicide, and Fire/Fire injury
burnt_amber89's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Although it was hard to read through the tears (especially towards the end), this was a wonderful experience. I absolutely adored all the characters, and reading this while the war in Ukraine just broke out made it all the much more poignant. It really makes the reader understand the effects of war on regular civilians, on kids, on families that just want to make the best of a dire situation, even on the side of the agressor. The innocence of Liesel only emphasizes on the absurdity, pointlessness, and incomprehensibility of war. The figure of Papa brings warmth, justice and humanity to the worst possible situation. Every single relationship Liesel forms with the other characters bring something unique and precious to the discourse, and the tale is told in such a spectacular way that I could barely put the book down.
The poetry of the text is incredible, it is so poignant, and yet extremely accessible. The fact that we know from the very beginning that the ending will be terrible doesn't make it any less dramatic, which is the sign that the book is beautifully written and that the characters are particularly believable. I honestly felt something akin to grieving at the end, and even several times throughout the book.
I had seen the movie prior, and even though I loved it, I can honestly and easily say that the book is far superior, in the sense that words convey so much more meaning than simply images. Words are actually almost a character in their sense, and they play an important role in the story, that I don't think I grasped while watching the movie.
In the book, you get to know the characters intimately, spend a lot of time with them, accompany them through some life-changing events in a way that is even more touching than in the film. The little details, the mundane observations, the everyday poetry really had an effect on me. It gripped me from the very first sentences to the very last ones, and my throat still aches now that I think about it again a few days after I finished this wonderful book. As far as I'm concerned, it's an easy 5*.
The poetry of the text is incredible, it is so poignant, and yet extremely accessible. The fact that we know from the very beginning that the ending will be terrible doesn't make it any less dramatic, which is the sign that the book is beautifully written and that the characters are particularly believable. I honestly felt something akin to grieving at the end, and even several times throughout the book.
I had seen the movie prior, and even though I loved it, I can honestly and easily say that the book is far superior, in the sense that words convey so much more meaning than simply images. Words are actually almost a character in their sense, and they play an important role in the story, that I don't think I grasped while watching the movie.
In the book, you get to know the characters intimately, spend a lot of time with them, accompany them through some life-changing events in a way that is even more touching than in the film. The little details, the mundane observations, the everyday poetry really had an effect on me. It gripped me from the very first sentences to the very last ones, and my throat still aches now that I think about it again a few days after I finished this wonderful book. As far as I'm concerned, it's an easy 5*.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and War
Moderate: Cursing, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury