I am at a loss for words. I began reading The Book Thief on Sunday and finished it on Monday. Admittedly I was motivated to try and squeeze it in before the end of the year as my last pick for the War Through the Generations: World War II Challenge, but I truly was swept away by the book from the very first page. After I finished the book, I told my husband there was no way I could review it. What could I say besides that it's brilliant? The writing, the characters, the presentation of the story--every word of it is just plain brilliant. I suddenly understand why so many people gush over this book. And now it's my turn.

The novel is narrated by an unusual character, that of Death. Death offers a different perspective than a human would have. He is straight forward with his insights into the human condition, sometimes to the point of being blunt; and while his position offers him some detachment, he is at the same time drawn to humans and their stories, as he is in the case of Liesel Meminger.

Death is telling a story that happened in the past and as such offers spoilers along the way. This may be disconcerting to some, but I found the foreshadowing comforting in this case. It seems fitting given how omnipresent Death is. And like Death, I have always been more interested in the process, the chain of events leading up to something, than the ending itself (hence my enjoying a mystery even though I can see the ending coming a mile away). Death is not impartial despite what he wants the reader to believe, however. There is a hint of bitterness behind some of his statements, but he also has a heart, even if he is himself not human.

The characters are fully fleshed out, even the minor characters. The author makes their weaknesses and strengths clear. And these come out all the more fully in their interactions with one another and their relationships. The main character, Liesel, has suffered much loss in her young life. She is nine when she comes to live with her foster parents. Her foster mother is a bit rough around the edges and takes a little getting used to, but she has a big heart. Liesel takes to her foster father right away; he teaches her almost immediately how to roll a cigarette. He also is the one who teaches her to read and encourages her interest in books. Also among my favorites are the neighbor boy, Rudy, who becomes Liesel's best friend, the mayor's wife with the big library, and Max, the Jewish man hiding from the Nazis.

While a heartbreaking and brutal story at times, this is also a novel of hope and resilience. It demonstrates the ugly side of humanity as well as the beautiful. The evil of the Holocaust and the actions of the Nazis during World War II are well known. Set in a German town outside of Munich, The Book Thief offers the reader a glimpse of what life was like for the average (non-Jewish) German during that time in history. Liesel and her friends are members of the Hitler Youth, a requirement for children her age. There are book burnings, war rations and air raids. As the Jewish prisoners are paraded through the town on their way to the concentration camp Dachau, the town folk flock to the main street to watch. Complacency was all too common during that time period, whether out of fear or hate. Those who did intervene were beaten and often punished for reaching out to help.

The power of words is a strong theme throughout the novel. The first book Liesel steals is one she finds in a graveyard after the death of her brother. She has no idea what the book is about, being that she is unable to read. Somehow she knows, however, that the book is a treasure worth keeping close. It would be the first of many books that she would steal, earning her the title of the book thief.

It was through words that Adolf Hitler and his followers perpetuated the prejudice and hate against the Jewish people, spurring the violence on. It was with words that Liesel left marks on the mayor's wife out of anger. But it was also words that comforted during the air raids and soothed the injured soul. Words brought friends together and words that empowered a little girl, giving her courage and strength.

The writing is beautiful, almost poetic. There is a certain rhythm to Death's narration. The book may be long but I savored every word. I even found myself rereading passages not because I didn't understand them, but because I wanted to re-experience the words, feel them in my mind and taste them on my tongue.

This is one of those books that will haunt me for a long while. So much for being at a loss for words, eh? ( )

Incredibly moving. It's interesting to read about life during WWII from the perspective of non-Jewish Germans rather than the more obvious victims of the war. The choice of Death as a narrator is incredibly poignant and the writing is absolutely beautiful. Zusak has a wonderful way with words, using figurative language in a way that is both shocking and exquisite. ( )

I have just finished reading 'The Book Thief". Thank you Markus Zusak for this delicious book. This was the second time I borrowed this book from the library. The first time I returned it to the library unopened. After borrowing it the first time and reading the back cover, I was uninspired to read this book. I borrowed this book a second time after reading a few comments on 'librarything.com'. Even then when I borrowed this book a second time, I did so, still thinking that I would not enjoy this book and the subject matter. I grudgingly opened the book and started reading. Little did I know that I was opening an exquisitely written book. This book was a delight to read. Thank you again Markus Zusak. ( )

I loved this book. I have read a lot on the Holocaust - historical fiction, biographies, and historical accounts - so I have somewhat of a fascination, but it was really great to read a book from a German point of view. I loved how Liesel was able to experience new worlds because of the books brought to her by her foster father. This book is also interesting because of the narrative told by Death. I could see how some might not enjoy this book, but I would highly recommend it.
I would recommend this book for my library (medium public library). ( )

After hearing several recommendations from fellow teachers about this book, I began reading it with great anticipation. However, the format of having Death insert bold notices throughout the narrative really turned me off in the beginning. Once I got over that, I really began to enjoy the story.

This is a wonderful view of Nazi Germany from the inside. It is the story of Liesel Meminger, a young girl growing up with a foster family in Molching, outside Munich. And it is the story of how the family took in Max Vandenburg, a Jew, and hid him for months in their basement.

Liesel discovers a love of reading thanks to her foster father and that is woven throughout the book. She learns how to acquire books – stealing them when necessary. The Book Thief is a great YA read, which I would highly recommend. ( )