The Book Thief: Markus Zusak

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak(read my other book reviews here: https://estherbookblog.wordpress.com/ )It was only on the second reading of The Book Thief, that I really appreciated it for the extraordinary novel that it is. Not only do we see the war from within Nazi Germany (a perspective that is often left untold), and from the side of a young girl, Liesel, but the tale is narrated by death, giving an even more unusual and interesting angle and a unique way of writing.The paradox that death could be a living creature, seem human, is not a new idea; Chaucer’s Pardoner’s Tale tells the story of men who meet death and end up killing each other, demonstrating that the enemy is not death but ourselves, each other. As the narrator of The Book Thief reminds us, he is only a “result” and throughout the novel we come to empathise with him and his wretched task. He even adds humour when dispelling common misconceptions: “I only wear a hooded black robe when it’s cold”. We are won over to death’s side and thus trust his narrative. He focusses on Himmel Street, on Liesel and those around her, but is also able to give a wider perspective on the war and the vastness of the destruction. He even questions his role to God. It is death who is able to offer insight into the ways of human beings, who can see the good and bad in everyone, and the consequences of human actions.Throughout, we are told the outcomes of characters before they live them out, giving a sense of inevitability and injustice to the world. Liesel’s best friend Rudy, for example, we are told “didn’t deserve to die the way he did”, and to take his life seemed like “robbery”. But there is also a great self-awareness on Zusak’s behalf and a great deal to be said about the nature of storytelling itself. Death knows he is giving the game away, but does not “have much interest in building mystery”. As he says, it is not necessarily what happens that makes an interesting story, but “the machinations that wheel us there that aggravate, perplex, interest and astound”.Words are shown to have a great power, both for good and for bad. Liesel hurts the mayor’s wife by telling her the harsh and unfeeling truth, by insulting and rejecting her: “The injury of words. Yes, the brutality of words”. Zusak shows the effects of Liesel’s words metaphorically, as though they are physically wounding the mayor’s wife: “she was battered and beaten up […] cuts had opened up”. The power of Hitler’s words caused the war. As told in the story Max writes, ‘The Word Shaker’, words are his weapons. After seeing Jews being paraded through the street, Liesel becomes angry with books and words; she rips some apart in the library: “The words. Why did they have to exist? […] Without words, the Fuhrer was nothing. There would be no limping prisoners, no need for consolation or worldly tricks to make us feel better.”Yet, words are also able to save. Liesel reads to Max (the Jew who shelters in their cellar) when he is in a comma, hoping that this will revive him, “as if the words alone could nourish him”. On this occasion, it doesn’t work; books do not have magical powers but Liesel does use books to help her neighbours. During the air raids, residents gather in a basement and she reads to them. Her reading passes the time, calms those who are scared, distracts the children and offers a sense of hope. Frau Holtzapfel likes it so much that she has Liesel come and read to her alone. She even requests it after hearing bad news about her son.As Max gives words to Liesel in the form of the books he writes for her, when she sees Max in the parade of Jews being marched to the camps, Liesel is whipped for talking to him, but before she is dragged away, she is able to offer him words, memories, friendship. She speaks up for him. Words also save Liesel to a certain extend – her street is bombed and she is the only survivor because she was in the cellar writing her story.The novel ends with Liesel’s eventual death, when she is an old woman. Again, the narrator offers profound insight into the novel we have just read and to human existence: “how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words so damning and brilliant”. It is a paradox left unsolved, even by death with his ‘circular’ heart. His final words, “I am haunted by humans” are also part of the paradox – unsettling, funny, sad and beautiful all at once.

I have never read such a story. WW2 is told in so many ways, but this book has an original telling. The use of language is superb and I cannot understand why this book isn’t a set text for exams. It would teach young people so much

For anyone who doesn't know (and hasn't read the summary above), one of the most interesting things about this book is its narrator. Rather than being narrated by Liesel, the protagonist, her story is told through the eyes of Death, who watches Liesel and visits her three times.This is a really different quirk and Death's narrative voice adds a lot to the story. The book is full of rich metaphors that I think work well because they're told from the point of view of someone who isn't human, or seeing things like us. Death notices colours a lot and describes things in a way we probably wouldn't.This is a good point and a bad one in my mind, as, while sometimes I think it creates a really beautiful picture of what's happening, other times I feel like I'm trawling through metaphor after simile after metaphor. It all got a bit much after a while, and I sometimes found myself pausing to puzzle over what a metaphor actually meant, which brought me out of the story.The second world war setting, along with Death narration, brings something very ominous to the story. You know vaguely where it's going to go - not in a predictable way, just in a 'Oh no, awful things are going to happen' kind of way. It also creates characters that you can't help but love in that difficult position. A favourite for me is Hans, Liesel's adoptive Papa who comforts her in her nightmares, teaches her to read and disagrees with the Nazi party, even as he tries to placate them to keep his family safe. It's a complicated situation, one impossible to win really, but he tries so hard to do the right thing.Liesel herself is a great protagonist - strong, smart, and ultimately flawed in a way that makes her relatable. Sometimes she says awful thing because she is unhappy, she does or doesn't do things she regrets, and that just makes her all the more loveable.I sometimes found the language a little jarring - often people will say something in German, and then the translation is given too, as if they said that as well. This probably annoys me because I speak German so it was like reading the same phrase/similar thing twice, but when the majority of dialogue is in English it did feel a bit odd.The ending is a really bitter sweet one. Which is how I often say I like my endings, although this one has a lot more for the bitter and a lot less of the sweet. But there's something about it that makes me not want to describe it as wholly sad. But you shall have to read and judge for yourself, I don't want to spoil anything here!This is a really beautiful book and you can see why it appeals to adults and younger readers alike, and why it is so internationally read. Reading after such a long time has been like reading it for the first time and I can safely say now it is definitely a book I enjoy, just a little heavy handed with the metaphors for me.

this book was shipped to me in perfect condition, I am very happy with my purchase and I cannot wait to start reading :)(also I got a free bookmark with the book, how cool is that?)

Ottima edizione con copertina flessibile. Altezza del carattere perfetta tranne nelle pagine, che sono pochissime, in cui vengono riportati i disegni e le relative dedcrizioni testuali del libro che Max Vandenburg stava scrivendo per Liesel Meminger.

An excellent read, how beautifully writer described the story of an inocent girl during Nazi Regime.

El libro lo estamos leyendo con mi hijo de 13 años. La historia interesante para su edad y provoca interés por la historia de la Guerra. En cuanto acabemos, vamos a ver la película.

This book is amazing! Original, moving and stark writing.Can't wait to see the movie and see if they stayed with this incredible story.Highly recommended!