Book and Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
PLOT:
The Book Thief is a novel that centers around the life of Liesel
Meminger, a nine-year-old girl living in Germany during World War II. Liesel's
experiences are narrated by Death, who details both the beauty and destruction
that life in this era brought.
After her brother's death, Liesel arrives in a distraught state at the home of her new foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann. During her time there, she is exposed to the horror of the Nazi regime and struggles to find a way to preserve the innocence of her childhood in the midst of her destructive surroundings. As the political situation in Germany deteriorates, her foster parents hide a Jewish man named Max, throwing the family into a state of danger. Hans, who has developed a close relationship with Liesel, teaches her to read in secret. Recognizing the power of writing and sharing the written word, Liesel begins to not only steal the books that the Nazi party is looking to destroy, but to also write her own stories and share the power of language with Max, the Jewish refugee. As Liesel copes with the trauma of her past and the violent horrors of the war-torn world around her, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, the formation of a new family, and mostly, her life as "the book thief"
Review:
5 stars
The thing that really intrigue me with this book is how it was narrated. The book is being narrated by death, which is something new to me. Also, It is beautifully written in a way that is almost seems like poetry. I also like the fact that it shows how the Germans also suffered during WWII, that the children were greatly affected by the event, and that not all Germans like Hans Hubermann were supporters of the Nazi Movement.
Furthermore, repression is also present in this book. It is seen in Liesel Meminger in a way that she has to keep Max and their friendship as a secret, which she could not understand. And through Max Vandenburg in a way that he is a jew therefore he has no freedom and he has to hide from the Nazi just because he is jewish. The family dynamics featured in this books is very interesting in a way that Liesel is an adopted daughter but Hans and Rosa Humbermann loves and cares for like she is their own. Even though they both show it in a different way where in Hans is very close with Liesel. He teaches her how to read and write, while Rosa is very strict with Liesel but shows that she cares for her especially in the part where Liesel is in school and Rosa informs her that Max is awake.
We also see the development of the characters, especially Liesel. She became more open to Rosa and Hans and she began mature in a way that as the book progress she understood the condition that was happening during her time. I also think that the death of Rosa, Hans, and Rudy is very significant and has to happen because it signifies her loss of innocence because those three were her "security blanket".
In a feministic view, we see how the women and men treat one another indifferently. Rosa Humbermann is seen as superior to her husband Hans. And Liesel plays with boys and she also punched Franz Deutscher when he made fun of her. There is also a reverse in gender traits where in Rudy is seen as a hopeless romantic where as Liesel is seen as refusing Rudy's advances.
To assert, I really recommend this book for those who likes historical fiction and coming to age novels. This is a really sad read so prepare your tissues cause you will cry like a baby.
Getting into it: You get suck in after a few pages.
New Words: You'll get to learn german words.
Funny: first half of the book then it becomes sad towards the end.
Moving: Yes! you will cry I guarantee it.
Boring Parts: Almost Never:
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Isabel Samonte
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