The Book Thief is “just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . .” (pg6) Sounds familiar, right? But don’t be tricked by the premise. The Book Thief is, without a doubt, one of those books that will stay with you all your life, or should I say it will haunt you. Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s novel follows the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing something she can’t resist, books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father (Hans Hubermann), she learns to read and shares her stolen books with the Jewish man hidden in her basement (Max Vandenburg). This is an unforgettable story of cruelty, poverty, hope and above all the ability of
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It is narrated by the most omnipotent of all narrator's, death himself. Yes, that’s right, Death. A rather fitting choice considering that the story takes place during the Holocaust. However, despite the grim topic and the grimmer narrator, Zusak manages to convey the story in a light-hearted manner. Although this takes away some of that realism and genuineness having the story told by a character detached from humanity has a haunting effect. Zusak conveys Death as a character with a heart, that is haunted by the terrible things humans do. Death’s commentary on the action of the Holocaust story enables it to become everyone's story. It wasn't just another story about Jews but rather it was about us, humans. Death in the hands of Zusak gives a unique and compassionate voice to a narrator. He comments on human's inhumanity without being graceless, or even quite understanding at times. This is a beautifully balanced piece of storytelling with glimpses of what is yet to come: sometimes misleading, sometimes all too
It is narrated by the most omnipotent of all narrator's, death himself. Yes, that’s right, Death. A rather fitting choice considering that the story takes place during the Holocaust. However, despite the grim topic and the grimmer narrator, Zusak manages to convey the story in a light-hearted manner. Although this takes away some of that realism and genuineness having the story told by a character detached from humanity has a haunting effect. Zusak conveys Death as a character with a heart, that is haunted by the terrible things humans do. Death’s commentary on the action of the Holocaust story enables it to become everyone's story. It wasn't just another story about Jews but rather it was about us, humans. Death in the hands of Zusak gives a unique and compassionate voice to a narrator. He comments on human's inhumanity without being graceless, or even quite understanding at times. This is a beautifully balanced piece of storytelling with glimpses of what is yet to come: sometimes misleading, sometimes all too