The Book Thief

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Customer Reviews:

• 
  2008-07-01
  By Andy Miller, Nottingham, UK
  I approached this book with some apprehension. The cover illustration on my copy seemed almost twee and the selected review quote - `When Death tells a story, you really have to listen' - contrived and gimmicky. The first few pages did little to relieve my reservations either. Death, the narrator, had a glib style, using colloquialisms and jokey asides, again worrying me that a topic as serious and solemn as life in Nazi Germany and the plight of the Jews during the War was to be treated in such a manner.
  
  If any other readers find themselves approaching this book in a similar frame of mind, my advice is `Do please read on!' After the brief and unusual scene setting by Death, the narrative turns to a more straightforward but compelling account of the life of Liesel Meminger. At the start of the book, in the winter of 1939, she is nine years old and being taken south with her brother by their mother to a small town near Munich. Here Death intervenes again, to my irritation at the time, to tell us `We know now, of course, that the boy didn't make it'.
  
  Liesel is left with foster parents, the wonderfully strong and gentle Hans Huberman and Rosa his stern, but loving and principled wife. Many sections in this book are devoted to everyday life in this household and paint a picture of tenderness amongst all the privations and fear, especially as Liesel is taught by Hans to read using a book she has `acquired' at her brother's graveside. These moving scenes are intensified and compounded with danger and suspense when the family shelter a Jewish man in their cellar for many months.
  
  Life outside the house is also painted in vivid detail. The hungry wanderings of Liesel and her friends, the interminable football games, the cruelty of bullies and the strength of enduring friendships over years, all provide emotional hooks for a reader. Liesel's membership of the Hitler Youth was, in true adolescent fashion, something to do, a social activity, with the hateful ideology failing to register. There is comedy here too; Liesel reports that, when joining the Hitler Youth, the first thing they do is to `check that your Heil Hitlering is working properly'.
  
  A major theme within the book is the power of the written and spoken word. Liesel acquires her second book from under the noses of the Nazis as they ignite one of their trademark town square conflagrations. As she hurries home with her smouldering bounty hidden beneath her clothes, the reader can feel the heat and pain, whilst also sharing in the defiance and sense of triumph.
  
  The horrors of Nazism and the war are ever present and come to the fore in certain dramatic sections. But for me, this book is as much about the finest qualities - love, heroism, compassion, sacrifice - to be found in people. I had started the book, which extends to almost six hundred pages, wondering whether such a length was absolutely necessary. By the end, - the deeply, deeply moving end, - I did not want these characters to leave me. I had come to know them, even, seemingly, Death, so well!
  
  Death, who in the final sentences says, no jokes and gimmicks to be heard now, `... I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race'. Death, who concludes the novel with the words `... I am haunted by humans'.
  
  This book has haunted me since reading it, but as much with its depths of warmth and hope as the horrors amongst which these wonders can flower. A wonderful read.
  
  
• 
  2008-07-02
  By Kris Rees, Cardiff
  Personally, I found this book a little bit childish and simplistic for my tastes. I got about half way through before I got bored. It reminded me a little bit of the dark materials trilogy. If you like reading stories about empowered little girls then Im sure you'll love this. With it being about death and world war 2, I was expecting something far grittier, which raised some difficult moral questions.
  
  I did find the slightly alternative perspective of World War 2 quite interesting, althought it was obvious the characters were written by someone looking back on the war with the benefit of hindsight.
  
  
• 
  2008-07-02
  By Sarah, Ireland
  I liked this book. It wasn't the best written novel i've ever read but i still coudn't put it down. It's really unusual but it works. I'd highly recommend reading it.
  
  
• 
  2008-07-02
  By Reya,
  I usually buy bestsellers and books with good Amazon reviews because I trust the majority's opinion. However, I honestly dont understand what's so amazing about 'The Book Thief'. I personally would not recommend this book.
  
  What I liked about it is the beginning (which is quite rare) it seemed so unique and magical. I fell in love with the idea of Death being the narrator and couldnt wait to find out what Mr Grim Reaper had to say. But of all the stories Death could have told us, sadly he chose a pretty boring one. Actually I dont think it's the story itself was boring (because I guess the events of Nazi Germany are quite interesting, if that's the right word to describe them) I just dont think that this story needed all 554 pages it was given.
  The story pretty much goes like this: Liesel woke up, she got out of bed, brushed her teeth, scratched her head, looked in the mirror...etc. Which I think is really unnecessary.
  
  Overall, the beginning was good, the middle was incredibly boring and the end was predictable (partly because Death decided to tell us the ending right away, so you'll find out what happens at the end after reading the first 20 pages) The Book Thief is not a bad book, I actually think it's interestingly written, but it's not the kind of book you cant put down; it's the kind of book you have to force yourself to pick up again.
  
  
• 
  2008-07-03
  By Me,
  My mum gave me this book to read, which is usual a bad sign, but I have throughly enjoyed it. Death is the narrator, which should be depressing, but in a weird way it's uplifting.
  It's a wonderful story about an horrific time and I'm surprised by how much I loved it!