Hi!
Today we want to review »The Book Thief« from the Australian author Markus Zusak, which was published in 2005 and got many awards, for example the »ALA Best Books for Young Adults«. The novel is amazing and we totally recommend it to everyone of you who likes sad and touching stories.
»I wanted to tell the book thief many things, about beauty and
brutality.
But what could I tell her about those things that she didn't
already know?
I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating
and underestimating the human race-that rarely do I ever simply estimate
it.
I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so
glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.«
The main character of the book is Liesel Meminger, a young girl living in Germany during World War II. After her brother's death, she has to leave her mother and live with foster parents: Hans and Rosa Hubermann. At first, the nine-year-old girl is very sad and misses her mother but after a short time she gets along with her new family very well. Especially Hans is very caring and teaches her how to read, even though he isn't very good at it either. But together they make some progress and that is how Liesel learns to love words and how her career as a book thief really begins. During her time with Hans and Rosa she finds her best friend, named Rudi Steiner. He is a kind and rebellious boy, who eventually falls in love with Liesel when they grow older. Together, they have lots of fun playing football in the street and roaming through their town. But the good times are stopped by World War II and Liesel is exposed to the horror of the Nazi regime who track everybody that helps the Jews - also Hans Hubermann, because he doesn't like the values Hitler stands for. As they want to help the refugees, Liesel's foster parents begin hiding a Jewish man called Max to protect him. Liesel develops a close relationship with the young man and shares the power of language with him, which helps her to develop as a reader and even a writer. She and her family live a dangerous life protecting a Jew, but they never give up hope. During that time, Liesel experiences loss and pain, but also friendship and love.
Liesel is an intelligent girl that grows up to be a strong woman. She stands up for peace and freedom, by stealing, reading and writing books, because she realises how much power is in the written word. Most of the other characters are loveable too, especially her foster parents, Max, and her friend Rudi. They are all unique and give their best to cope with the hard life they have. Nevertheless, we have to admit that the character we loved best was the Death. He is the one that tells the story of Liesel and even though one wouldn't think that Death can be friendly, he really is. We think that he has a great sense of humour and is very caring towards Liesel and her friends. He also gives the reader inspiration and lots of things to think about. That's why we like him so much and think that the author created a wonderful character.
The story is brilliant and both of us had to cry in the end because it was so heartbreaking! It really makes you think about love, tolerance and death, but is also delightful and humorous.
I'll dream now, I want to have adventures! ~Liv
Me too! I'll travel to the year 1789 - let's see what happens there. ~Gwen
Source: Amazon
Liesel is an intelligent girl that grows up to be a strong woman. She stands up for peace and freedom, by stealing, reading and writing books, because she realises how much power is in the written word. Most of the other characters are loveable too, especially her foster parents, Max, and her friend Rudi. They are all unique and give their best to cope with the hard life they have. Nevertheless, we have to admit that the character we loved best was the Death. He is the one that tells the story of Liesel and even though one wouldn't think that Death can be friendly, he really is. We think that he has a great sense of humour and is very caring towards Liesel and her friends. He also gives the reader inspiration and lots of things to think about. That's why we like him so much and think that the author created a wonderful character.
The story is brilliant and both of us had to cry in the end because it was so heartbreaking! It really makes you think about love, tolerance and death, but is also delightful and humorous.
I'll dream now, I want to have adventures! ~Liv
Me too! I'll travel to the year 1789 - let's see what happens there. ~Gwen
Source: Amazon