I hadn’t heard about The Book Thief until the movie came out last year, but it sounded like a story I wanted to read before I saw it in the movie theater. When I found it on Amazon I was interested to see that it is a “young adult” book with a target audience age of 12 and up, but since I loved The Hunger Games, that was more of an attraction than a deterrence.
Here is the Amazon synopsis of The Book Thief by Markus Kusak:
It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement
But that doesn’t really do the story justice.
Death is the narrator of this story, which is never a good sign, especially in a story about Nazi Germany, but Death is gentle with us readers at least, and prepares us for the dark events to come with hints and foreshadowing.
Liesel is an unlikely heroine, taken in by foster parents who can barely put soup on the table and don’t even seem to have that much love to spare. But, whether they never were as gruff as she first thought or she wore them down, they prove to be a good family in every sense of the word.
The story eloquently weaves together the sadness of being orphaned, the desperation of being impoverished, and the horrors of Nazi Germany, and manages to be hopeful and bittersweet rather than depressing and tragic.
Since I purchased the Kindle version of this book (a bargain at $4.99!) and read it on my iPhone, I didn’t realize how long it was until I had been reading it for a while and noticed that I was (only) about 1/4 of the way through. The paper version is 576 pages! Because it took me a few weeks to read, the movie is not in theaters anymore, but I still would like to see it–maybe I’ll be able to download the movie to my Kindle soon. 😉
Do you like to see movie versions of books you’ve read?
Do you consider how long a book is before you decide to read it?
Do you have a suggestion for what I should read next?
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Hello Courtenay, I have never heard of this book but now you have me wanting to see the movie. It sounds like it would be a great movie. I do like to see movie versions of books I read and yes, I do consider how long a book is before I began reading it .I have never downloaded a book to read before but I thinking about trying it. Thank you for sharing review. btw… I loved the Hunger Games, too!
Have a nice day,
Kim ~ This Ole Mom
I read so much more now that I am reading on my iPhone or Kindle. I never have to wait until I have time to get to the bookstore!
Oh! I haven’t heard of this. I’ll have to go check it out. I do like to see movie versions of books and like you, I prefer to read the book before watching the movie! I just finished reading Me Before You which was great. Cried my eyes out.
I think the movie got swallowed in the rest of the holiday releases, but it should be really good too.
I just finished this book as well! I was sick with the flu over Christmas and my sister lent it to me. I didn’t start it until a couple weeks ago and was sorry I didn’t read it while I was sick and had more time without having to go to work! It was a very good story, heartbreaking and at the same time uplifting. I like any stories from that time period and another good one that you may like is called ‘Stones From the River’ by Ursula Hegi.
I didn’t see the movie when it was in theatres so will have to wait for the dvd.
Thanks for the suggestion. I will check it out!
I read this about 4 or 5 years ago because one of my 5th graders gave it to me and wanted me to read it too so he would have someone to talk about it with.
Oh, that is so sweet!
Ohh, I heard that was a good book. I’ll have to add it to my already growing list.
Loved this book. I read it a couple of years ago but couldn’t bring myself to go see the movie – didn’t want to be disappointed!
as an adoptive mom of 3 “orphans,” I’m both intrigued and nervous, but I might just give this one a try…
Oh, the adoption part of the story is pretty positive. 😉
I just finished reading this book. On the first page, I decided I wasn’t going to like it. But I plowed through it. It was heartbreaking and sad but happy in a way. I surprised myself and enjoyed it!
Yeah, I am put off by a narrator that speaks to the reader, but this one worked out!
You write the best reviews. I downloaded this one on Audible and need to start listening. My husband read it a few years ago when one of his teachers wanted to have her class read it.
When do you have time to read? I find the extra time in my day to either go to blogging or to reading, but not usually both.
Oh, thanks! It is hard to find time to read, but I am trying to shut down social media by 9:30 or 10 pm and read for an hour before I fall asleep. Or, cross-country flights like I have this week!
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