Sunday, June 1, 2014

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I've been told I've been pretty negative in several of my recent reviews.  The writing isn't any good, I've been repeating over and over.  I took some time to think over this feedback and I came to the conclusion that I've been wasting my time reading alot of books that weren't worth my time.  But that's about to change.

At first glance, you may think this novel is the story of Liesel, a young girl whose mother gives her up to a poor, foster family as Hilter's reign in Germany is on the rise.  On the trip to her new home, she watches her brother die and steals her first book.  She can not read but is fascinated by the words it contains.  Papa teaches her to understand the words while soothing her nightmares.  Mama vocalizes the words that teach her to face head on the hand life has dealt.

And you may think this is another story about the ravages of war and the Holocaust.  But it's not.  The Book Thief is the story of the power of words.  We learn how words are used to exert dominance and control and how words can express fear and grief.  But Liesel shows us how words can build friendships and fill empty hearts with love. 

The Book Thief is set during a dark period of world history.  It is beautifully poetic about how life was viewed through the eyes of an innocent child.  A story, like The Book Thief that can bring me to tears, is a story I want to savor in my mind and save on my bookshelf forever. 

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