Synopsis
It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier and will be busier still.
While standing by her brother's graveside, Liesel experiences a life-changing moment when she picks up a single object partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left behind by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words as Liesel learns to read with the help of her accordion-playing foster father. 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.
Review
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak has been sitting on my TBR (to be read) list for a long time, so it was rather nice to tick it off. I had very little knowledge of what this book was like before I got into reading it. I did know that it was a book set in World War Two Germany, that there was a movie based on it, and that there was a lot of praise for it.
First, I must admit that I listened to it as an audiobook, and I don’t think I would have finished it if I had read it. Something about the language and pace of the book would have meant I would have struggled. So there is a tip or hack for you; if there is a book you want to read but are struggling with it, try it as an audiobook or vice versa.
I think the thing that makes the Book Thief stand out is that it is told from Death’s point of view. It is death who is recounting Liesel’s story and the stories of those around her. From her own writing and as a witness, as Death himself floating through war-torn Europe.
Even though Death tells us the story, there is still a strong sense of the innocence of childhood. This comes from Liesel, as she learns and witnesses and questions what is happening around her.
Zusak writes in such a lyrical way. The language, the descriptions and the narrative are captivating, bringing the setting and characters to life. The images created are so authentic you can’t help but feel, at times, that you are falling into the story and standing beside Death and witnessing it all, too.
The Book Thief is an honest and heartbreaking story set in World War Two. While it draws on actual events from that time, it is a fictional story, though I imagine it draws on some real stories. I recommend reading it. It’s one of those books I think everyone should read at least once in their lifetime.
