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A review by perrywolfecastle
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
A book narrated by Death, which still feels tender in places, despite the subject being anything but. It’s fitting really for a book where each character is experiencing, surrounded by or under constant threat of death. Death is merciful, they are fulfilling a task, and the author can effectively use them as an omniscient narration tool.
I’m avoiding spoilers here, which is odd, as the narrator never does. In fact, many times Death will tell you of the events coming long before it gets there. It’s an interesting tool I feel is done well here and somewhat insulates the reader from the shock of it all and draws focus to the emotion of it all.
The everyday Germans in the cast, many living in poverty, not in the Party, and living through WW2, are interesting. The focus on a single street during these huge world changing events grounds the story into a very human one, despite the supernatural narrator.
I’m avoiding spoilers here, which is odd, as the narrator never does. In fact, many times Death will tell you of the events coming long before it gets there. It’s an interesting tool I feel is done well here and somewhat insulates the reader from the shock of it all and draws focus to the emotion of it all.
The everyday Germans in the cast, many living in poverty, not in the Party, and living through WW2, are interesting. The focus on a single street during these huge world changing events grounds the story into a very human one, despite the supernatural narrator.