The Book Thief is one of two Markus Zusack novels I've read over the past year. The other was I Am the Messenger (which is also enjoyable, but very different from The Book Thief).
The Book Thief is a great read for anyone who's been experiencing a lot of insomnia lately because it will fill the hours of void with a fascinating story. With this said, it's about 550 pages long. First to understand the novel, you must understand that Death is narrating. Death begins narrating talking about his life and his meager pleasures. The book then transitions into the actual story about a little girl named Liesel.
We find out that Liesel is being 'abandoned' by her mother. The story is vague as to why Liesel is being shifted to the care of foster parents, but because the story is set during Nazi Germany, so you can imagine the possibilities. Liesel's brother dies during this transition to the foster family, which makes Liesel appear even more alone.
Liesel finds herself in a household less than supportive of Hitler, despite the fact that she must join the BDM (Bundes Deutsch Maedel)- the girls' division of the Hitler Youth. Liesel comes off as a Tom-boy because she plays soccer in the neighborhood, joins a gang of childhood thieves and she beats up classmates who make fun of her reading ability. To say the least, she has chutzpah.
As the story progresses, you find that there are multiple layers of the book to consider. Liesel struggles with her self identity. She struggles with her identity as a 'good German' and she struggles against the effects of Nazi Germany- which means the Holocaust and WWII.
While the novel could begin to feel like a history book, it's anything but. Zusack makes sure to include some love, mystery and thievery to tell the story of a little girl who could really be living at any time period with such conflicts. Technically the book is labeled as a Young Adult novel, but the adult reader will find enough German and historical references to keep his/her brain busy connecting the events in the background with the story in the forefront. You will forget you'd ever even thought about sleeping once you get your hands on this literary crack.
The Book Thief is a great read for anyone who's been experiencing a lot of insomnia lately because it will fill the hours of void with a fascinating story. With this said, it's about 550 pages long. First to understand the novel, you must understand that Death is narrating. Death begins narrating talking about his life and his meager pleasures. The book then transitions into the actual story about a little girl named Liesel.
We find out that Liesel is being 'abandoned' by her mother. The story is vague as to why Liesel is being shifted to the care of foster parents, but because the story is set during Nazi Germany, so you can imagine the possibilities. Liesel's brother dies during this transition to the foster family, which makes Liesel appear even more alone.
Liesel finds herself in a household less than supportive of Hitler, despite the fact that she must join the BDM (Bundes Deutsch Maedel)- the girls' division of the Hitler Youth. Liesel comes off as a Tom-boy because she plays soccer in the neighborhood, joins a gang of childhood thieves and she beats up classmates who make fun of her reading ability. To say the least, she has chutzpah.
As the story progresses, you find that there are multiple layers of the book to consider. Liesel struggles with her self identity. She struggles with her identity as a 'good German' and she struggles against the effects of Nazi Germany- which means the Holocaust and WWII.
While the novel could begin to feel like a history book, it's anything but. Zusack makes sure to include some love, mystery and thievery to tell the story of a little girl who could really be living at any time period with such conflicts. Technically the book is labeled as a Young Adult novel, but the adult reader will find enough German and historical references to keep his/her brain busy connecting the events in the background with the story in the forefront. You will forget you'd ever even thought about sleeping once you get your hands on this literary crack.
