The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak – Book Review
Death Narrates This Story About a Girl's Love Affair With Books
Jun 5, 2009
The Book Thief is the story of a young girl who, at her brother’s graveside, picks up a book accidentally left in the snow, and so begins her life of book thievery.
The Book Thief Overview
In Nazi Germany in the year 1939, young Liesel Meminger is placed in the care of the Hubermann’s. Unaware of where her mother has gone, her father having been taken away long ago as a communist, and the recent death of her brother leave Liesel with nightmares and sorrow.
After her first theft of a book, a love affair with reading and books begins. Her foster father teachers her to read and Liesel begins to steal books from other places, including the Mayor’s house and Nazi book-burnings. Things change for Liesel when the Hubermann’s hide a Jew in their basement.
The Book Thief Review
Narrated by Death, this is a unique and enjoyable book. There are snippets of the story and teasers, which will keep the reader interested, and progressing through the book. Beginning with the death of Liesel’s brother, and her subsequent fostering off to Hans and Rosa Hubermann, a case of ‘an opposites attract’ couple, Liesel’s love of books and thievery begins.
Set in Nazi Germany, the story is rich and interesting and revolves around Liesel’s life and struggles living in Nazi Germany, her love affair with books and her compassion for Jews. Although she deals with the hardships of not enough food, cherishes her few stolen books and suffers the fear of death from air raids, and deals with great loss, Liesel’s childhood still has moments typical of a child growing up. She makes friends, fights at school, goes for bike rides and plays football. This all adds to the depth of her character.
In fact, that is what Zusak does best, creates believable and interesting characters. Even Death is likeable, although sometimes his narrative is perhaps a bit too poetic as he speaks of the ‘the sky was the color of Jews’.
Zusak tells Liesel’s story in snippets of information, revealing things that have yet to happen. Some readers may find this spoils the story for them, however, most will be intrigued and curiosity will force them to continue reading to find out how events occurred. An emotional and intriguing story, The Book Thief is definitely worth the read.
The Book Thief was first published in 2005 and again in 2008 by Pan Macmillan (ISBN 978-0-330-42330-4). Zusak has also written When Dogs Cry and The Messenger.
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