“The only thing worse than a boy who hates you: a boy that loves you.”
Book: The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak
Genre: Classic, Historical, Fiction
Synopsis: It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The
country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will be busier
still.
By her
brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed when she picks up a single
object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left
behind there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a
love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her
accordian-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books
from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books
to be found.
But
these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jew in their
basement, Liesel's world is both opened up, and closed down.
In superbly crafted writing that burns
with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most
enduring stories of our time.
What
I think about it…
The
Characters
Liesel
Meminger, the book thief,
her life – though fictional – made me think, ‘How can a little girl endured so much?’ She’s undeniably strong
and courageous. I admire her bravery, of facing the world head on. She’s been
through a lot of hell at a young age and yet she overcomes the world.
Rudy
Steiner, oh boy Rudy is
Liesel’s best friend. This boy with a lemon colored hair and a gangly blue eyes
is athletic and brave. He was with Liesel everywhere. They’re literally
partners in crime. From stealing apples, potatoes and books – a thief – he
became the boy that hands breads to the Jews.
Max
Vandenburg is the Jew
that was kept in the Hubermann’s basement. He’s the only son of Papa’s former
colleague – the guy that taught him how to play the accordion.
Papa is Hans
Hubermann who taught Liesel how to read. I admire Papa so much. He embraced
Liesel like she’s his own flesh and blood. He is tenderhearted. He has a gentle
soul. He’s poor but that doesn’t stop him from helping people who needs it.
Mama is Rosa
Hubermann who always, always curses everyone, like, she’s not gonna finish
her sentences without a saumensch, saukerl or arschloch. She’s not Mama if she doesn’t curse but you know that’s
her weird way of saying she cares and loves Papa and Liesel.
Ilsa
Hermann is the Mayor’s
wife. Ilsa became somewhat friends with Liesel. She lets her come inside their
home, inside her library and she also lets Liesel read books there. She’s
always in her robe and slippers with an unreadable expression. Honestly I don’t
know what to make of Ilsa but there’s something in her that made me like her.
The
Story
Liesel was 11 years old when she lost her
younger brother. Her brother died in front of her and that’s what Liesel’s
nightmares are made of in so many years to come. The day of her brother’s
death, she got her first book – The Grave
Digger’s Handbook. This book means so much to Liesel cos the book was there
when she last saw her brother and the last time she saw her biological mother.
But as ironic as it sounds, the book thief doesn’t know how to read. As the
years went on and she started learning how to read, she also started stealing
books.
What
didn’t work for me…
I didn’t get the hype and for that I’m
sorry. It was boring, for me, and the
only time that I felt something about this book is that chapter. Maybe I’m just too dumb for this book because I
didn’t understand a lot (and I mean a lot)
of things here like, maybe, there are symbolisms or whatnot that I missed. I
know Max’s sketch meant something but I was too bored to care. I don’t know what
I missed but I think the reason why it was on my shelf for, like, forever was
because it was in the historical genre.
My
Verdict
This book has been in my shelf for years. Yes, years. It’s only this week that I had the urge to start reading it
and boy it disappointed me. I felt
bad that I didn’t love it like my friends loved it, like the people who I
followed on Goodreads loved it. So yeah, one star for Rudy and one star for
Papa.
MY RATING
★★☆☆☆
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