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Tamara's Reviews > The Book Thief
The Book Thief
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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
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
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The Book Thief.
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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 151-174 of 174 (174 new)
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May 19, 2015 12:56AM
I have to say, for me this was a fast read...only two days and good all the same!
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Tamara - <3 If you love to care about the characters.... if you love to have your heart broken and mended on the same page <3 Exactly what I wanted in a book and exactly how I will describe my next "call for suggestions"
Your review is so accurate. I at first had wanted to punish the book for being so willing to be put down only after a few pages, and then waiting for the last hundred pages or so to refuse to leave my hands. Although it took so long to read, it was definitely one worth the patience, and the words were more delicious than any ice cream I've ever tasted (:
I've got the same opinion.
I loved this book so much it was one of my favorite books and I could understand it and I am only 10 it made me cry at the end when rudy..... nevermind no spoilers!
Thanks for finally being someone that likes the book.
Couldn't agree more! <3
I just finished the book and I have to say that you are right. No one could better describe it!
I agree wholeheartedly with your comment! I was just thinking earlier today that you really get to care about the characters in this story. You're also right that it is not a fast read, but that was alright.
Couldn't agree more. Your review sums up my thought �
i want to ask you how to start read this book.My app is goodreads.I am Chinese.
I've watched the movie, but I think I'll read the book all the same.
Love your review. I'll definitely read this now. I avoided it for the same reasons.
thank you for your review. it helps me understand all about my life
I agree. This book isn't just for anyone. I think that you have to have interest and dedicate some time to fully understand the book. It's not meant for you to just simply skim through. It's full of details and emotions for you to learn or experience with the characters as you read the book. Also, I very much agree with the description that says "If you love to have your heart broken and mended on the same page." I think that while I was reading I really loved the relationship between Rudy and Liesel. One example that made me feel exactly like this description was in Floating Book part ll, when Liesel's book was thrown into the lake or river. Watching her lose the book she enjoyed reading made me feel bad for her, but as I read on and found that Rudy was courageous enough to save the book without any hesitation or idea of what might happen to him warmed my heart and showed me he really does care for Liesel even though they haven't had the longest friendship someone could have. This friendship also helped me connect what they had to what I think most teenagers have now. For example, I think these days friendships don't last a very long time because people are very secretive or act "fake" to one another and no one can tell who they can actually trust.I think that Death having a personality is true and I fully agree with Tamara's opinion, or idea. Death does show emotion throughout the book and, I think, has a sensitive or very calm personality. For example, he feels bad for taking the souls of many young children and even felt bad for the way he predicted, or told us, Rudy would die. I support that Death is also trying to understand humans just like how we are. Death mentions that he doesn't understand humans in the book, and now that I think about it myself I don't get it either. Why do we behave the way we do? Why do we cause so much evil on our own in the world? Why do we hate and love or feel at all? Yes, when Death feels overwhelmed by his job he looks at the colors that he sees when something happens, but I also feel that he observes them for another reason. This might be that he might also be exhausted about what's going on on Earth during his job and feel that our leaders are making such dumb mistakes and most of the people in that time support them while not being aware that at the end of the day if our leader's life is as stake he might give up all his people just to save himself. What I'm trying to say is that Death might also be annoyed of the choices some people make and might just need a distraction from that.
I agree with your review that this book is not for people who don´t read fast, however; that shouldn´t be stopping you from reading this book. For people who love history and fiction, I would highly recommend this book. It is very emotional and heart-touching. The author uses a unique style in his writing. I like the idea of using death as the narrator in the story because I have never read a book like the book thief. Overall, this book may be long; however, I guarantee that when you read the summary, you want to keep on reading!
disagree with the first paragraph, i don't like any of these but i still read the book and loved it. i say give it a go! its so good.
I love your review ...it makes me more curious to read this book...I came to read reviews because I wanted to know the central theme of the book...but really, I was fed a hill of curiosity and interest...thanks to u
URGH THE BOMB ENDING.I never cry after reading sad books or watching sad movies but that bomb left me haunted for days. I was so sad that the next morning all I could think about was the book until my dad started yelling at me�
Does this book have any sexual content? I want to give it to my daughter she is 12 years old but love murder mystery books.
