It's time for another book review! I've chosen The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. If you haven't yet read it, I'd highly recommend doing so. If you've seen the movie, I urge you to read the book. There's so much more here than was included in the movie. Well worth the read!
Eleven-year-old Liesel Meminger is a
foster child who has recently arrived in a small town outside Munich, Germany
during WWII. Liesel has been sent to live with Hans and Rosa Huberman,
presumably for the small stipend they’ll receive. Liesel is still suffering from
the loss of her little brother and the difficult and somewhat mysterious
separation from her mother. She takes an immediate like to Hans, who is kind
and thoughtful, but takes much longer to warm up to the abrasive Rosa.
Liesel makes friends with next-door
neighbor Rudy and establishes herself as a self-proclaimed book thief. Becoming
unlikely friends with the Mayor’s wife Ilsa affords Liesel the opportunity to
read the books in the Mayor’s massive library. Along the way, Liesel is witness
to the atrocities of war, heartbreaking events, love, loss and other
life-changing events.
I saw the movie The Book Thief several years ago and loved it. When I decided it
was time to read the book I was absolutely captivated. Although the book is 550
pages long, I read it in just two days – it was THAT good.
The book is different in several
ways, ways in which I won’t go into in my review. Suffice it to say that I’m
glad I saw the movie first and then read the book. I think I might have been
disappointed with the movie version if it had happened in opposite order. This
just goes to show how well the author has written this important piece of
fictionalized history. The time period, location, mood, characters, etc. come
to life as the story unfolds.
I was surprised at some of the other
reviews, stating that the book was just plain depressing. I’m not at all sure
how a book that deals with the systematic extinction of a race of people can be
written about in an uplifting, happy way. Yet, the book is so much more than a
story about a German girl who is living in Nazi Germany during WWII. There are
many lovely, tender elements to be found in The
Book Thief. The additional anniversary edition footnotes written by the author (at the end of the book) provide wonderful insight.
I think it’s extremely important
that all generations read books like The
Book Thief. This is part of history and, as poet and philosopher George
Santayana said, "Those who do not remember the past are doomed
to repeat it." This is a book that is emotionally draining,
but very much worth the read!
5 of 5 Stars,
Review by Susan Barton, DIY Mom Blog
