A review by charlote_1347
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

5.0

I consider myself lucky to have seen the film adaption of 'The Book Thief' before I began reading the book. I was prepared (kind of) for the heart-wrenching finale and the solemn, life-changing message it communicates to the reader. Death's narration is certainly evident in the story while it really wasn't in the film and I cannot imagine his absence now. Rudy was as cheeky and bright as I expected and I only fell more in love with his character as the novel progressed. Papa was the same. Knowing both their eventual fates did not alter how attached I became to them. And this novel is unusual in that it tells the reader exactly what is going to happen. This doesn't ruin the story however. Far from it. The imagery in 'The Book Thief' was ambitious and perfect - most of the time. There were sentences and similes and descriptions that I felt interfered with the flow of the narrative. Attempts to be too minimalist or too unique in writing style. This affected my overall enjoyment of the novel until the last seventy pages, when the plot took over and left the language in the dust. Despite this criticism though, I would never insult this work of art by giving it anything less than five stars.