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A review by jojowhatdoyouknow
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
5.0
A story from Death’s perspective doesn’t immediately strike me as the most uplifting of tales – and true enough, at first glance The Book Thief’s main themes seem to be sorrow, destruction, anti-Semitism, loss, degradation and poverty. Somehow though, between Liesel’s stuttering triumph over her illiteracy, Rudy’s unfailing affection, Hans’ accordion and rollies and Rosa’s wardrobe sized heart, we forget that the story will not end happily (although we are reminded frequently) and instead get caught up in the beauty of Zusak’s descriptions.
The backdrop of Nazi Germany is a harsh one; in my mind’s eye it has always existed in black and white – save perhaps for the Star of David’s blazing yellow, but through Liesel – and Death’s – descriptions the landscape is bedecked in colour. I was amazed at how vividly Zusak described everything – the weather, which we usually see as something banal to discuss became so important as we saw life through the eyes of the basement-confined Max. I found that The Book Thief achieved that wonderful feat of reminding us that the citizens of war torn countries don’t cease being citizens, their lives continue to be full of the daily struggles which they faced before war descended; their hurt may be greater, their situations more precarious, but they are, in the end, still people.
The Book Thief sneaks up on you and pickpockets your soul; but for me, I gave it gladly.
The backdrop of Nazi Germany is a harsh one; in my mind’s eye it has always existed in black and white – save perhaps for the Star of David’s blazing yellow, but through Liesel – and Death’s – descriptions the landscape is bedecked in colour. I was amazed at how vividly Zusak described everything – the weather, which we usually see as something banal to discuss became so important as we saw life through the eyes of the basement-confined Max. I found that The Book Thief achieved that wonderful feat of reminding us that the citizens of war torn countries don’t cease being citizens, their lives continue to be full of the daily struggles which they faced before war descended; their hurt may be greater, their situations more precarious, but they are, in the end, still people.
The Book Thief sneaks up on you and pickpockets your soul; but for me, I gave it gladly.