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A review by bexterrr
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
5.0
[Sunday 23:49] Well. That was emotional.
[Monday 22:05]
I spent the day with a full blown book hangover. My head aching, my eyes sore, my mind elsewhere. And my feelings crushed.
I intend to write this review without giving too much away. If you're wary of anything being revealed, I urge you to read the book first and maybe by then I'll have begun a support group. Himmel knows I need one.
A quick suggestion: Book first. Sadly the film falls too flat after reading the book. It cannot be revived. But watching the film first will ruin the true power of the book. A sacrifice must be made, they cannot be held separately despite big differences.
We'll start with the title. The Book Thief. Two of my favourite things. And this book did not disappoint. The magic and power and importance of words. And language. Not only the language you are reading it in, but the scraps of German offered to you by the Narrator. The Narrator is cast beautifully as both an outsider and an insider. One language thing I didn't enjoy was all the blaspheming. Not because it was blasphemy, but because it was repeated too much. Had it been one phrase and/or character, it might have been better. Particularly a child, as I'm sure we all remember the secret and constant issues of a taboo word once we understand the power of such things. Even if the outcome of that power was a clip around the ear.
Two things you may have read from the blurb.
It is Narrated by Death.
We are in Nazi Germany.
We'll look at the latter first, however.
If you're ever given the opportunity to learn anything about the Holocaust or visit sites like Auschwitz, I highly recommend it. If you are human, it will horrify you and stay with you. You'll remember things occasionally and any mention of related topics will force some part of you out of your lungs. It needs a voice so it is not forgotten.
Another thing to remember is Nazi Germany is not Germany. Or rather Germany is not Nazi Germany. This book deals brilliantly with the topic by making its presence known through the eyes of Death and the eyes of a child. You see different angles. German Jews, reluctant supporters, soldiers.
Speaking of Death. S/he narrates beautifully. At first I was wary of the vague, poetic narration, but it is maintained throughout and I found myself falling in love with some phrases (and wishing I was reading it on Kindle so I can make note of them with little effort).
However, Death draws you in and does not reveal the story in a linear fashion. You are given promises and glimpses and at times it eases your concerns, other times, it makes the suspense unbearable. And, ultimately, some of these supposed promises are broken. Because Death has a clever way with words.
I was reminded a few times of The Little Prince. All I will say is, the drawings, the fairy tale, and the feeling of being cheated by the Narrator at the end.
At times I did feel like it was a constant build up, pages and hours of not very much. But then there is this one little snippet that puts it back into perspective.
"I don't have much interest in building mystery. Mystery bores me. It chores me. I know what happens and so do you. It's the machinations that wheel us there and aggravate, perplex, interest and astound me."
The story, just like a life, is going to end. But this is about those little things and lead us there. It's life in its complex, simple, painful, joyful moments.
This is an incredible story and possibly the one book I respect so much but don't think I could ever return to.
And ultimately I think it's a love story in a non traditional sense. Different kinds and different depths and the things we are willing to do for it.
[Monday 22:05]
I spent the day with a full blown book hangover. My head aching, my eyes sore, my mind elsewhere. And my feelings crushed.
I intend to write this review without giving too much away. If you're wary of anything being revealed, I urge you to read the book first and maybe by then I'll have begun a support group. Himmel knows I need one.
A quick suggestion: Book first. Sadly the film falls too flat after reading the book. It cannot be revived. But watching the film first will ruin the true power of the book. A sacrifice must be made, they cannot be held separately despite big differences.
We'll start with the title. The Book Thief. Two of my favourite things. And this book did not disappoint. The magic and power and importance of words. And language. Not only the language you are reading it in, but the scraps of German offered to you by the Narrator. The Narrator is cast beautifully as both an outsider and an insider. One language thing I didn't enjoy was all the blaspheming. Not because it was blasphemy, but because it was repeated too much. Had it been one phrase and/or character, it might have been better. Particularly a child, as I'm sure we all remember the secret and constant issues of a taboo word once we understand the power of such things. Even if the outcome of that power was a clip around the ear.
Two things you may have read from the blurb.
It is Narrated by Death.
We are in Nazi Germany.
We'll look at the latter first, however.
If you're ever given the opportunity to learn anything about the Holocaust or visit sites like Auschwitz, I highly recommend it. If you are human, it will horrify you and stay with you. You'll remember things occasionally and any mention of related topics will force some part of you out of your lungs. It needs a voice so it is not forgotten.
Another thing to remember is Nazi Germany is not Germany. Or rather Germany is not Nazi Germany. This book deals brilliantly with the topic by making its presence known through the eyes of Death and the eyes of a child. You see different angles. German Jews, reluctant supporters, soldiers.
Speaking of Death. S/he narrates beautifully. At first I was wary of the vague, poetic narration, but it is maintained throughout and I found myself falling in love with some phrases (and wishing I was reading it on Kindle so I can make note of them with little effort).
However, Death draws you in and does not reveal the story in a linear fashion. You are given promises and glimpses and at times it eases your concerns, other times, it makes the suspense unbearable. And, ultimately, some of these supposed promises are broken. Because Death has a clever way with words.
I was reminded a few times of The Little Prince. All I will say is, the drawings, the fairy tale, and the feeling of being cheated by the Narrator at the end.
At times I did feel like it was a constant build up, pages and hours of not very much. But then there is this one little snippet that puts it back into perspective.
"I don't have much interest in building mystery. Mystery bores me. It chores me. I know what happens and so do you. It's the machinations that wheel us there and aggravate, perplex, interest and astound me."
The story, just like a life, is going to end. But this is about those little things and lead us there. It's life in its complex, simple, painful, joyful moments.
This is an incredible story and possibly the one book I respect so much but don't think I could ever return to.
And ultimately I think it's a love story in a non traditional sense. Different kinds and different depths and the things we are willing to do for it.