Book Review: The Book Thief (Spoiler Free)

The Book Thief is a tragically beautiful tale of love, war, loss, and death. They are undeniably making it a fan-favorite modern classic. So here’s a review of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

About The Book:

the book thief book review — *The Book Thief*
*by Markus Zusak*

Title: The Book Thief

Author: Markus Zusak

Genre: War, Holocaust, Historical Fiction

Publisher: Knopf BFYR

Type: Standalone

Pages: 552 pages

Goodreads rating: 4.4/5

The story is set up in 1939 in Nazi Germany. While the country is holding its breath, death has never been busier and will be busier still. Liesel’s life changes at her brother’s graveside when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger’s Handbook and is her first act of book thievery. Thus, begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordion-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she starts stealing books from Nazi book burnings, the mayor’s wife’s library, and wherever there are books. 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.

The Book Thief Book Review

The Book Thief is an incredibly well-written, heartbreaking story of a young girl surviving in war-torn Germany. It is one of the first books about the second world war that I have read and is written from the point of view of somebody living in Germany. It makes you realize that there are two sides to the same coin. Showcasing that even some Germans were victims of the war and weren’t all evil as the history tellers often portray them.

The author has crafted all the characters in the book with the utmost care. The characters are all fictional yet, seem so realistic. Hans – Liesel’s foster father, made me fall in love with accordion music and late-night reading sessions. Rosa was initially the least-liked character and turned out to be one of the kindest souls in the plot. Rudy stayed with me way beyond the pages. And Liesel inspired me to be brave and adventurous when it comes to living life.

“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”
Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

The Book Thief is not a story that has you crying one moment and laughing the next. Moreover, the sadness surrounding Liesel’s story creeps up on you and leaves a sense of guilt in some ways. Because it is the British bombs that are falling in Germany, they killed so many people in the story, all because of a single man dictating the entire nation’s fate.

The plot development is spectacular, and the pace of narration is slow, thus providing adequate time for the story to seep into the readers’ minds. With well-written dialogue, the vivid depiction of plot scenes transports one to the fictional town of Molching in Germany. It did not feel like I was reading a book; rather, I was living the story through Liesel and the narrations of ‘Death’ itself.

“I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race-that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.”
Markus Zusak, The Book Thief

A beautiful, lyrical, heart-wrenching, and powerful tale, rich with originality and creativity, The Book Thief is a love letter to words; to books; to their power for both good and evil, and to friends that become family. It is a bittersweet story about a meaningless war, a young girl’s journey of survival and acceptance, and death narrating the fate of so many characters.

Conclusion

Rating: 4.5/5

Recommendation: This title is for anyone inclined towards historical fiction, especially about World War II, with complex characters and a memorable storyline.

Buy The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Now:

About The Author

Markus Zusak is an Australian writer with Austrian and German roots. He is best known for his creations – The Book Thief and The Messenger. Both these novels became international bestsellers. He won the ‘Margaret A. Edwards Award’ in 2014 for his writings.

Link to Buy The Book Thief by Markus Zusak:

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