A review by libralita
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

5.0

Why did I wait so long to read this book?

I’m glad that Liesel was taken in by a somewhat good family. The mom is pretty awful but the dad is pretty nice.

Oh no, Rudy is in blackface to celebrate Jesse Owens. It’s so strangely endearing.

Nothing like learning how to read by a concentration camp.

“‘I’m asking you, I’m begging you, could you please shut your mouth for just five minutes?’
You can imagine the reaction.
They ended up in the basement.”—Page 72

Hehehehe.

“(By the way—I like this human idea of the grim reaper. I like the scythe. It amuses me.)”—Page 75

Death needs to be a character more often in books.

“She even sang to herself while she cooked those eggs to the brink of burndom. It appeared that there was great joy in cigarettes, and it was a happy time in the Hubermann household.
It ended a few weeks later.”—Page 90

Well, that’s depressing.

“Are we still friends?”—Page 117

Awwww….

Books!!!

“Part three, thank God, was a little more lighthearted—”—Page 147

Death thinks there’s a god?

“Just give me a few pages.”—Page 168

Death has such a funny voice at times.

“Somehow, though, there was also a look of triumph on her face, and it was not the triumph of having saved another human being from persecution. It was something more along the lines of, See? At least he’s not complaining.”—Page 197

I’m pretty sure there’s a reason for that.

I guess it’s a good thing Junior left them otherwise Max would be in trouble.

“‘I’m so selfish.’
When he said that, he used his forearm to shield his face. ‘Leaving people behind. Coming here. Putting all of you in danger…’ He dropped everything out of him and started pleading with them. Sorrow and desolation were clouted across his face. ‘I’m sorry. Do you believe me? I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m—!’”—Page 218

Oh my god, poor Max.

“Damn that seventeen down,”—page 221

Aw, Max.

“Now I think we are friends, this girl and me.”

You’re killing me.

“You see?
Even death has a heart.”—Page 242

I just like this quote.

“Of course, I’m being rude. I’m spoiling the ending, not only of the entire book, but of this particular piece of it. I have given you two events in advance, because I don’t have much interest in building mystery. Mystery bores me.”—Pager 243

And this one.

They’re all painting pages from Mein Kampf.

Side note, I’m curious as to why Rosa is willing to let Max stay and why she’s not all Nazi-ed up.

“‘It’s about time,’ she informed her, ‘that you do your own stinking washing anyway. It’s about time you face that fact that your son is dead. He got killed! He got strangled and cut up more than twenty years ago! Or did he freeze to death? Either way, he’s dead! He’s dead and it’s pathetic that you sit here shivering in your own house to suffer for it. You think you’re the only one?’”—Page 262

Oh my god Liesel….

“‘You need a shave,’ she said.
‘You’re not going to hell,’ Papa replied.”—Page 266

Stop making me smile while I’m crying.

Don’t do this, Liesel….

“I do not carry a sickle or scythe. I only wear a hooded black robe when it’s cold. And I don’t have those skull-like facial features you seem to enjoy pining on me from a distance. You want to know what I truly look like? I’ll help you out. Find yourself a mirror while I continue.”—Page 307

Sick burn.

“When his life appeared, Hans Hubermann risked his life by throwing a most excellent snowball at her.”—Page 313

Wow, he almost died that day.

“Rosa turned then and said something with great assurance. ‘Now listen to me, Liesel. I didn’t take this man into my house to watch him die. Understand?’”—Page 315

Sometimes Rosa can say the most touching things.

“They were French, they were Jews, and they were you.”—Page 350

Damn.

Liesel, why didn’t you apologize?

“At their side, the soldiers also made their way past, ordering them to hurry up and to stop moaning. Some of those soldiers were only boys. They had the Führer in their eyes.”—Page 392

Ahhhh this is so painful.

“Then, one human.
Hans Hubermann.”—Page 393

Oh god….

Max left, I’m so sad. And maybe for nothing.

Oh no they’re going to recruit Rudy for war. Or not?

Oh god Hans has been drafted into the German army. Thank god he’s coming back Hans is coming back.

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK? THEY’RE ALL DEAD! FUCK! Except for Liesel.

I knew that Ilsa would take her in.

HOLY FUCKING SHIT! YES! OH GOD MAX LIVED! THANK GOD!