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A review by lauraborkpower
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
5.0
I am so pleasantly surprised by this book, which, plainly stated, knocked my socks off.
I was expecting something typically YA, and probably good. What I got was a terrifically imaginative story with a sophisticated and original narrative style and beautifully drawn characters. There is nothing black and white about this book, and there is nothing easy about this story. Oddly enough, though, it's absolutely easy to read because of Zusak's skill as a writer and as a storyteller.
I played excerpts from the book for my creative writing class as illustrations of wonderful imagery (Hans playing the accordion in the kitchen, the mayor's wife's first appearance, Liesel's schoolyard fight), and I hope that my students will try to mimic Zusak's style in their own work (I know I will).
The narrator, Allan Corduner, was also a joy. He was a bit of a mix between Jim Dale (I'm thinking The Night Circus) and Neil Gaiman (Specifically The Graveyard Book): soft, English, and a bit sinister when he needs to be. But, really, he's just smooth and wonderful to listen to.
I will listen to this book again and again, and I will recommend it to everyone, especially any young readers in my life.
I was expecting something typically YA, and probably good. What I got was a terrifically imaginative story with a sophisticated and original narrative style and beautifully drawn characters. There is nothing black and white about this book, and there is nothing easy about this story. Oddly enough, though, it's absolutely easy to read because of Zusak's skill as a writer and as a storyteller.
I played excerpts from the book for my creative writing class as illustrations of wonderful imagery (Hans playing the accordion in the kitchen, the mayor's wife's first appearance, Liesel's schoolyard fight), and I hope that my students will try to mimic Zusak's style in their own work (I know I will).
The narrator, Allan Corduner, was also a joy. He was a bit of a mix between Jim Dale (I'm thinking The Night Circus) and Neil Gaiman (Specifically The Graveyard Book): soft, English, and a bit sinister when he needs to be. But, really, he's just smooth and wonderful to listen to.
I will listen to this book again and again, and I will recommend it to everyone, especially any young readers in my life.