The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

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5/5 STARS

Genre: Historical Fiction, War
Author: Markus Zusah
Published: 2008 {1st pub. 2005}
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Pages: 584 {paperback}

Original review on Goodreads

**To see any spoilers, click on the provided link and you’ll be redirected to the review on Goodreads where the spoiler is hidden at the same point in the review.**

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Initial Thoughts on Finishing

Oh my god. Nothing will ever be the same. This book has ruined all other books forever.

“I’ve seen so many young men over the years who think they’re running at other young men. They are not. They’re running at me.”

~Death

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The Best Book You’ll Read This Year

Ah, but where do I start with this book? This book is perfection on paper. I feel like I can be really bold here, really quite bold, and actually claim that this will be one of your favourite books of whatever year you decide to pick it up in. *nods*

I adore this story. Admittedly, I committed a reader’s crime and I watched the movie first *dodges tomatoes* BUT I think I made an excellent decision (not that I actually made a decision, it just sort of happened that way – a bit like eating one block of the chocolate bar but knowing you’ll eat the whole thing, yes?). But why? HOW could this be an excellent decision. Well I’ll tell you (that’s what we’re here for after all).

Firstly, Geoffrey Rush, and secondly, Saumensch. Geoffrey Rush is a most extraordinary actor whom I love. I would/will see every movie EVER with him in it because he’s that fantastic. His ability to capture the character of this story is jaw-droppingly wow and his German accent, to me, sounded flawless (although to be fair I’ve probably met like, four Germans in my life). WHICH is another amazing thing about the movie. But we’re not talking about the movie right now, as you might notice (if you scroll down) I’ve reserved a whole little section for that.

So really what I’m trying to say is that this is a complex book and the visual image of the actors and settings and accents was very helpful and I feel made the story knit together just that bit better in my mind. Which ties in nicely with my second point that I would have no idea how to pronounce that word but now I can happily curse people in German on a daily basis and for all they know I’m saying: cheerio!

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What Happens

For the benefit of those who don’t know, this is a book set in WWII Nazi Germany on a quiet street of little consequence with characters who are fit to burst with personalities. The main character is the daughter/orphan of a communist who is living with a not-communist foster family who are quite strict (but not really) and she has to fit in (although really she’s planning to run away). So, to you, I present a book that sees the horrors of Nazism through the eyes of a child.

This book is very sad. Very tragic, very sad . . . but also really funny. The story is, and get this, narrated by Death. With a capital “D”, yes. This story follows a young girl called Liesel because Death finds her story interesting. This is something that does not come across so well in the movie, sfortunatamente (which is “unfortunately” in Italian, #DailyWordsWithKirstie).

“‘When death captures me,’ the boy vowed, ‘he will feel by fist on his face.’
Personally, I quite like that. Such stupid gallantry.
Yes.
I like that a lot.”

~ Death

Death is a really quirky character. He has a sense of humour (and I’m saying he because I am) and I love his inability to tell the story in the right order. You’ll know the fate of the characters before the ending of the book, which’ll only make you weep or laugh more. Death doesn’t do suspense, Death doesn’t care. Death just wants to tell you a story and for you to appreciate it because he’s bloody tired and wants to sit down – but of course, sfortunatamente, there’s no-one to do your holiday cover when you are, quite literally, death.

“Many jocular comments followed, as did another onslaught of Heil Hitlering. You know, it actually makes me wonder if anyone ever lost an eye or injured a hand or wrist with all of that. You’d only need to be facing the wrong way at the wrong time, or stand marginally too close to another person.”

~ Death

The story follows Liesel from a young age to her death, whenever that may be (stop trying to guess). We explore key moments in her life and it’s beautiful. We see her struggle with grief and horror at the realities of her life but we also see her at her best, making friends and finding all types of love. And also some really quite courageous attempts at pilfering.

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Liesel & Rudy

These two are the stars of the show. They’re fast friends, in a sort of reluctant way, and the story is seasoned with cheeky remarks from Rudy asking Liesel for a kiss. They do most things together because they’re neighbours and the same age and I adore how simple their friendship is, really.

“‘Saukerl,’ she laughed, and as she held up her hand, she knew completely that he was simultaneously calling her a Saumensch. I think that’s as close to love as eleven-year-olds can get.”

~ Death

Liesel is a very interesting character. If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll understand. She’s almost sullen, but expectedly so, but she has this love of life in a way that only a child can have. She’s quick to learn and easy to love. She is exactly what I would expect a girl of her age in her situation to be like.

A note worthy of mention is that throughout the book Liesel and her foster family hide a Jew, Max. This is a very hard topic to write about in such an almost light-hearted way as Zusak manages to pull off. Max is a wonderful character and probably one of my favourites – his influence on both Liesel and me in the way we now view the world is awesome. Have you ever tried describing the weather using your owns words? Don’t use “cloudy” or “sunny” or “rainy”. Go on, I dare you.

Rudy is a bundle of joy. I don’t want to talk too much about his character because I think he’s best left for you to discover yourself. He’s brave and adorable and his devotion to Liesel is a heart-breaking. Especially as Liesel is so tom-boyish and seemingly uninterested. I think what I love about the image I have of Rudy, non-film related, is the way he’s described as the boy with hair the colour of lemons. Isn’t that a nice image?

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Historical Context

Perhaps I’m biased. If you know me, or read my reviews, you’ll know that I love history (it’s quite literally very almost my life). And Nazi Germany, or just WWII, is quite often a favourite era amongst history buffs. I am no exception. I love this representation of this world and I love that it’s not about the fighting, not really. It’s about what Hitler did to the everyday people who didn’t necessarily care about his politics, who just wanted a happy family and bread on the table. It’s about feeling the mixed emotions over watching Jewish shops shut down. It’s about making note of the marches of Jewish prisoners through the streets. About preparing for air-raids and having basement inspections. About not enough food and learning Nazi hymns. It’s very, very real. I just can’t get over how tastefully it’s done.

“AN ABRIDGED ROLLCALL FOR 1942:
1. The desperate Jews – their spirits in my lap as we sat on the roof, next to the steaming chimneys.
2. The Russian soldiers: taking only small amounts of ammunition, relying on the fallen for the rest of it.
3. The soaked bodies of a French coast, beached on the shingle and sand.”

~ Death

To this I applaud Zusak because in my opinion he has nailed this home-front representation and by doing this via Death’s perspective it’s brilliant. Give the man some cake.

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What About the Movie?

Ah, the movie The movie was beautiful. When I first watched it I remember walking out of the cinema feeling what can only be described as emotionally bruised and randomly exclaiming throughout the following week BUT IT CAN’T BE. NEIN. So if you haven’t watched the movie yet, take my proffered packet of Kleenex and hunker down with a blanket.

The movie is a perfect companion to the book. I want to say (and I have actually recommended this already to someone) that if you not a keen bee about reading the book, then watch the movie first. And even if you are itching to get your hands on the book, then by all means don’t punish yourself by keeping away from the movie. It’s a wonderful packaged experience. The movie helps portray things that you’ll probably struggle with in your own imagination, but the book takes everything further and tells you a bit more about everything.

“It’s probably fair to say that in all the years of Hitler’s reign, no person was able to serve the Führer as loyally as me.”

~Death

In fact, there is just one complaint I have about the movie. And that is the exclusion of one particular thing, which I shall now hide in a spoiler:

CLICK TO SEE SPOILER

[the death of the pilot in the crashed plane to whom Rudy gives his teddy bear. That scene where neither can understand each other and the way the children aren’t quite sure what to do because it’s an “enemy” was moving. It made the war very personal. It put a face to those dying. And the sweet, sweet act of giving the teddy bear and the peace that gave the dying pilot was beautiful. I think the movie did miss something by not including this scene. (hide spoiler)]

My final words on the movie are this: watch it.

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Summary

I don’t think I need to turn this into an essay (just kidding, I already have) but I think you get the point. YOU NEED TO READ THIS, PEOPLE. I’ve actually managed to go the whole review, I’ve just realised, without bringing up the topic of books. So: this book is a story about the impact of books. There you go. The story is fabulous, it’s the most unique book in the world, and it’s ridiculously enjoyable. Sure, you’ll probably bawl your eyes out but you’ll love it It’s nice to care about characters so much sometimes. This book is infallibly good. I can’t recommend it enough.

“I am haunted by humans.”

~Death

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You might also like . . .

If you enjoy war stories that break your heart a little, All the Light We Cannot See is for you.

If you like stories from unique perspectives, Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend is for you.

If you like learning about war whilst reading, The Butterfly and the Violin is for you.

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Have you read this book?

What did you think?

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~~ Kirstie ~~

Follow @ozbooksnail