The Book Thief

Hey guys!

So, I was going to upload my photos today but my laptop is misbehaving. It will have to wait for another day. Instead, I am going to post my review on The Book Thief.

A while ago I was browsing through my parents' book collection, trying to see if there was anything that caught my eyes. I stumbled upon The Book Thief, hidden between my mother's Philippa Gregory and Agatha Christie collections. Having heard about the film adaptation, I decided to try the book first. As with my mother, I enjoy reading books set during the Second World War. However, I will have to admit that when I first started reading The Book Thief I found it a bit weird. I had never read a book that was narrated by death. I was almost about to put it down and find a book that was more optimistic and less...odd, though I thought I would give Marcus Zusak's debut novel another chance. I mean, if it has been made into a film, it can't be that bad...right?

Ignoring the fact that the narrator is death, I would have to say that The Book Thief is an extraordinary and unique book. It is also moving, given its context and the fact that the protagonist, Leisel Meminger, has been separated from her parents, who were sent to a concentration camp for being Communists. Leisel is forced to live on Himnel Street with her new foster parents, who will never be able to replace her real family, especially since her future mother is not very welcoming. Having also recently lost her beloved brother, Leisel arrives on the Huberman's doorstop in not exactly the best of moods. She minds solace in the only book she brought with her, namely 'The Gravedigger's Handbook'. Leisel's unusual fascination with the book, given its unappealing title and her inability to read well, sets off her cycle of thievery.

I will not forget to mention Leisel's new best friend in Himnel Street: Rudy Steiner. As with Leisel, Ruby also has an obsession. He is intent on being the next Jesse Owens, even though he is nowhere near as talented. Together, the two children embark on a range of adventures, finding new things to steal.

Even though The Book Thief takes a while to get into, I would recommend it to anyone wanting a change from the usual book. Yes, it is fairly unsettling in some places, but at the same time the layout has been described as ingenious, and it is very different to other young adult novels, which tend to be full of one-dimensional characters.



Have you read The Book Thief? What did you think of it? Let me know :)


Hasta luego!


Serena