Book Review: "The Book Thief"

"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

SUMMARY from GoodReads

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Narrated by Death, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a young foster girl living outside of Munich in Nazi Germany. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she discovers something she can't resist- books. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever they are to be found.

With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, Liesel learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids, as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.

MY RATING:

MY THOUGHTS:

When I began reading this book, I honestly didn't think I would like it. However, I loved it. Like, really loved it.

The story is told by Death, he tells his point of view on Liesel's story of living and surviving in 1940's Nazi Germany. While that sounds sort of morbid, it's really interesting. Not only do you get the girls story, you also get glimpses of what German & Russian citizens were put through when Hitler reigned. I won't even get started on my opinion of Hitler.

I will warn you though, don't look for a happy ending. Maybe it's the hormones, but I'll admit that I teared up at the ending.