“I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.” — Liesel Meminger
Most will recognize that line and character from Markus Zusak’s 2006 mega-selling, young adult novel “The Book Thief,” which appears to be one of the all-time favorites among book buyers and bloggers. I received it as a gift in 2006 but then it sat collecting dust on a shelf and wound up in storage when I moved. So I’m perhaps one of the last bloggers to read the book, which I picked for my book club to discuss next week.
I’m sure you’re familiar with what it’s about: it describes a young, at first, illiterate girl in Nazi Germany who comes to live with foster parents in a working-class neighborhood outside of Munich and takes to stealing books during the escalation of WWII. She befriends Rudy, a boy who dreams of being the runner Jesse Owens, and Max, a Jewish fist fighter, who her parents take in and let live in their basement, hidden away from the Nazis.
I had heard so much praise about “The Book Thief” but didn’t know what it all entailed until I read it. What surprised me and I felt was unique about this particular WWII story is that:
a) It’s narrated by Death, which could have come across quite morbid, yet Death here is sympathetic to humans and feels bad about taking souls away during such awful wartime
b) It’s about a non-Jewish German family inside the country who isn’t exactly in favor of the Nazis (rarely do you get this perspective)
c) It’s about language and the power of words; how Hitler destroyed people with his words and yet how the girl Liesel tries to steal them back, treasuring the books she takes and her reading of them
d) And lastly, it’s a considerably dark and sad story, as many WWII tales are, but this one surely doesn’t sugarcoat the ending. Only a few characters survive, which is quite bleak, especially perhaps for a novel that’s labeled “young adult.” Maybe young adult books are often killer-bleak yet lighten toward the end, but this one definitely snuffs some lights out just when you’re hoping they’ll make it out okay.
With so many themes and nuances, “The Book Thief” will definitely make for an interesting discussion on book club night. I am glad I finally read it. Liesel Meminger and her family are memorable characters, and the book is visual, unique and at many times powerful. I’m sure it will stay with me for quite a while. The only thing I wasn’t sure of is the book’s narration by Death which at times I grew weary of. I just wanted to cut his part and get on with the story. But including it does offer an eerie, overarching perspective on war. In places, Death’s narration serves up an awful foreshadowing that you wish wouldn’t come true.
Great review! I love this book and push it on people whenever possible, as I did during World Book Night earlier this year. I’m happy you like it!
Hey thanks! I’m definitely glad now to know what I was missing.
I’m glad you enjoyed this one. It’s one of my favorite books. I thought the structure and narration was so unique. The foreshadowing was a bit tiring after awhile, but mostly because, like you said, you don’t want what he says will happen to actually occur. I re-read this one a bit ago with my daughter, and I cried even more the second time around.
Thanks Anna for the comments. I was definitely sad by it
Good recommendation. I haven’t read this book, but am now considering it. I like nuanced books.
Thanks Barbara. It’s a bit of a different take. Check it out
I have had this one sitting on my shelf for a very long time too. I’ve heard that it’s fantastic, but also that it’s very sad, and so I have waited for the right mood to strike me.
Yeah it surprised me a bit at the end. Thanks for stopping by Alyce
You’ve made me want to read this one again, as it’s been a few years. Great review!
Thanks Carrie!
You’re not the the last to read this. I bought it when a bookstore was going out of business here and it’s been sitting on my shelves ever since. I have too many books calling my name!
Yeah I know what you mean Kathy. I have these ones I’m supposed to read but sit instead on the shelf.
I started this one many times but for whatever reason, I lose interest before I hit page 100. I don’t know what it is. I am enjoying it. I think the story is told in a unique way.. not sure what my deal is.
Yeah I can see where it might not grab everyone. There are some slower parts in it. For a while it’s a bit static, then it moves at the end
Your review is excellent, Susan! You covered all the reasons this book is good and eye-opening. If I had been following you in 2012, I would have read the book then.
Thanks Judy. I think I had to “study” the book since it was a book club pick at the time. I wasn’t a huge fan of the book …. though I liked it well enough to hope Liesel & Max would make it out. I’m still curious a bit about its mega-popularity.
Such a great review. I also read this book with my book club (see here.I found your review on Judy’s Keep the Wisdom page.
Same as you said, you rarely get the perspective of Germans who didn’t agree with the Nazis. They were there but a lot of people didn’t get to say much about it. However, if you consider the more than 42 attempts to kill hitler. (and no, I don’t spell his name with a capital letter because he was no human.)
Thanks Marianne: for stopping by. I will check out your review of it. It gave a different perspective perhaps, or a rarely told one. It was quite a dark or sad story I thought. It’s been like 8 years ago since I read it, so it’s not too fresh in my memory but it was powerful in ways.
Thanks for your visit. Yes, I believe this story will stay with anyone who has read it for a long, long time.