欧宝娱乐

Tamara's Reviews > The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Rate this book
Clear rating

by
41724
's review

it was amazing
bookshelves: crowd-pleasers, top-10, teen, fiction

I give this 5 stars, BUT there is a disclaimer: If you want a fast read, this book is not for you. If you only like happy endings this book is not for you. If you don't like experimental fiction, this book is not for you.

If you love to read and if you love to care about the characters you read about and if you love to eat words like they're ice cream and if you love to have your heart broken and mended on the same page, this book is for you.

This story is narrated by Death during World War II, and it is the story of a young German girl who comes of age during one of the most horrific times in recent history. Death has a personality. If something bad is about to happen, Death warns you ahead of time. My favorite part is when "he" stomps on a framed picture of Hitler on his way to retrieve a thousand souls from a bomb raid. Death is trying to understand the human race as much as the humans are. When "his" job becomes unbearable, he watches the color of the sky as he gathers the souls and carries them away. The descriptions of the sky are like nothing I've ever read.

A few quotes: In years to come, he would be a giver of bread, not a stealer - proof again of the contradictory human being. So much good, so much evil. Just add water. p.164

The town that afternoon was covered in a yellow mist, which stroked the rooftops as if they were pets and filled up the streets like a bath. p.247

He was more a black suit than a man. His face was a mustache. p.413

He does something to me, that boy. Every time. It's his only detriment. he steps on my heart. He makes me cry. p.531

There was once a strange, small man. He decided three important details about his life:
1. He would part his hair from the opposite side to everyone else.
2. He would make himself a small, strange mustache.
3. He would one day rule the world.
...Yes, the Fuhrer decided that he would rule the world with words. p.445




3521 likes ·  鈭� flag

Sign into 欧宝娱乐 to see if any of your friends have read The Book Thief.
Sign In 禄

Reading Progress

July 7, 2007 – Shelved
Started Reading
August 1, 2007 – Finished Reading
September 15, 2007 – Shelved as: crowd-pleasers
May 13, 2008 – Shelved as: top-10
May 13, 2008 – Shelved as: teen
January 16, 2011 – Shelved as: fiction

Comments Showing 1-50 of 174 (174 new)


message 1: by Stef (last edited Aug 25, 2016 11:53AM) (new) - rated it 3 stars

Stef wow tamara! That is such a wonderful review. it sounds interesting!


message 2: by Angie (last edited Aug 25, 2016 11:54AM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Angie Yes, Bravo Tamara! This is a great review! You did this book justice. Truly one of the most powerful books that I've read!


message 3: by Jess (last edited Aug 25, 2016 12:07PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Jess One of the best, most moving books I have read, and this is possibly the most perfect review too!
The line about having your heart broken and mended on the same page is so apt - I spent the last 20 pages smiling through streaming tears...
Brilliant.


message 4: by Anne (last edited Aug 25, 2016 12:36PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Anne This was a wonderful review! And the quote you listed about Death being affected by Rudy was one of the most powerful in the whole book. Well done. :)


Susan A review as lyrical as the book--makes me want to read it again! Thanks, Tamara!


Janice Wonderful review! I did love the characters and the phrase "eat words like ice cream" puts a wonderful image in my mind and a great taste too!


message 7: by Deb (new) - rated it 5 stars

Deb This book has been beside my bed in my "to read pile", your review moved right to the top. Eating words like ice cream, what a wonderful image. Excellent review! Thank you.


Sofia I loved your review, phrases like "eating words like ice cream" and "having your heart broken and mended on the same page" are so true for this book. The last 50 or so pages of my book or are covered in tears. In an astoundingly good way, though.
Also, I love the quote about Rudy. I cried at that when I first read the book.


Kayo The BookThief": The ending is given away too quickly, fifty pages before the novel ends. However, this is a great YAL book. Interesting lines about how the Fuhrer would not have existed without words; words also enchant people with their beauty.





Stephanie A great review of that book...it was an incredible book and you captured it well. Your second paragraph says it all. I will never be the same after reading that book. It is most definitely a book I will read again. Thanks for posting such a great review.


Deborah Bussewitz Thank you for your wonderful review. You put into words my thoughts about this book.


Colleen Reynolds Very well written Tamara. I felt like the words of the book were surrounding me with hugs. Your review gave me a simialr feeling.


Brooke Thank you for putting up that review! I really loved the Book Thief. Unlike most people, I actually read I Am the Messenger first and found it equally enjoyable, although The Book Thief was way more profound.


Danica Page It was a very well-written review, but I do disagree with one of your statements, I read this book in one day. It was a fast read for me, and it could be a fast read for other people as well.


message 15: by Maribel (new) - added it

Maribel Your review is great... makes me want to go out now and get the book, and it's almost midnight here!


message 16: by Michele (new)

Michele I just started reading this the other day and I realized this was not a book I could devour like I normally do. I was torn as to whether I would finish this book or not. After reading your review I think that I am going to keep reading while reading another book along with it for the voracious side of me.

Michele


Carlin Hauck What a beautiful review. This is one of my very favorite books, and I have such a hard time describing it, but you did so quite eloquently!


Joanie I just had to say I loved your review! It was great. This is definatly going to be on my favorite book list. I loved it.


Laura A beautiful review. You summed up the review perfectly, I couldn't have done it better.


Christopher Well said. It was exactly that--having your heart broken and mended on the same page. Great review.


message 21: by Alshaimaa (new) - added it

Alshaimaa Your review is great=)
I was starting to read it but after your review. I'll save it for a better time when I'm not busy. because I was intend to read it a fast reading.


Marisa I loved your review, though I can't believe you'd say that it's not a fast read. I read it in under 9 hours total - yes, I'm a pretty fast reader but I just could not put it down.


message 23: by Carl (new) - rated it 5 stars

Carl I agree, your review is right on target.


Barbara Green The book is great! and so is your review! Thanks for a job well done!


Madeleine Rex Agh! I love this book to death (I've reviewed it), and I was reading through your review...

Until I reached: "He does something to me, that boy. Every time. It's his only detriment. he steps on my heart. He makes me cry." p.531

That quote. It has the incredible power to make me want to burst into tears every. Single. Time.

Oh, Death, why must you say things like that?!

Thanks for the review, though, and I loved your first few lines about it. This book is truly a modern classic. (I also love that "just add water" quote...)

-Madeleine


Barbara Green a beautiful review for an amazing book! thank you!


message 27: by Serena (new) - added it

Serena Wow, I haven't even read the book yet but your review makes it sound so good! I loved your review-that pretty much all I'm saying


Carlie I applaud you for finding the courage to describe and explain this book in words. I sure know I cant!


Barbara Green Now that all of you have read this beautifully written review - and it really is special - perhaps this reviewer should sit down and write a book! Now it's time to read the book - because if you think the review is written well, well just read this amazing book!


Tammi Wow thank you for the review! The way you describe it makes me want to go out and get this book right now! Thank you again!


Triannanuetzman Susan wrote: "A review as lyrical as the book--makes me want to read it again! Thanks, Tamara!"

I know I'm only 13 nobody else I know understood the book, but I absolutely loved and understand it and want to read it again.


Triannanuetzman Janice wrote: "Wonderful review! I did love the characters and the phrase "eat words like ice cream" puts a wonderful image in my mind and a great taste too!"

Call Me crazy, but I personally don't like ice cream, but it totally fits I just replace ice cream with csndy and call it good


Kaymt I really loved the book. A friend from Australia sent it to me. Awesome review!! Very detailed.


Cynthia Perez I really enjoyed this book! Thanks for giving me the courage to actually even pick it up! P.S. Awesome review


message 35: by Libby (new)

Libby I'm only on page 73 and agree totally with what you said about eating words like ice cream. I had some difficulty sinking into the story at the beginning finding Death's narrative a little disjointed. But, even then, the author's language read like poetry, and yes, when he goes into such details about the colors of the sky when he goes to reap a soul, the words are as lyrical as music and as tasty as ice cream.


Derek I agree - not one to be read quickly. It's probably more like a fine wine. You need to take it in, swish it around a little, assess...then move forward. I don't like reading those kinds of books, hence my low rating for what is clearly a really good book.


message 37: by K (new) - rated it 5 stars

K I loved your review so much,I saved it on my computer.
"if you love to eat words like they're ice cream"
Awesome review!


Renee' Great review! You have a way with words, much like Markus Zusak.


Julie i loved your review as well! i just read it to my friend who is borrowing this book. AMAZING, just took the title of my favorite book


Jessica Rios The quotes from Death are amazing and my favorite part of the book. Goosebumps!!!


message 41: by Charles (new)

Charles This sounded like a good book until I got to the quotes. They are wonderful and I love how it's narrated by death, but it sounds way too slow moving for a 11 year old boy. Great review though!


Kristina great review


message 43: by Beth (new) - rated it 5 stars

Beth Definitely not something for an 11 year old boy to read. I'm 20 and I can't imagine reading it even a few years ago and truly understanding it and letting every thought and word soak in like it need to be. This book is not to be merely read it needs to be experienced.


Elizabeth Pierre-Jean This book is one of the few that made me cry. I wasn't reading a book. I was in another place, and my heart was there too.


a.girl.reading Loved the second paragraph of your review. You've put into words how I feel when I've found a really good book. Like you resist finishing the last few chapters because you don't want it to be over and when you have finsihed it you feel like you've lost a really close friend.


Bethany =) Love your review! I love the quotes you picked. =)


Seleena who can tell me what lesson or message can a reader learn by reading the book thief? ? plzz im very desprate! :( :(


message 48: by Dina (new)

Dina A good review for an amazing story.


Jessica Rios Bethany...you should do your own homework. And honey, it's good to do your homework because then you learn how to spell.


Charlotte M. I would have to disagree that this book is not an easy read. If you get into it, it goes by quite fast...


芦 previous 1 3 4
back to top