HI GUYS! I've been so busy lately that
I haven't even had time to touch my computer, but I finally caught a
break to write my first review of the summer! Where do I even begin
with this book? The Book Thief tells a heart-wrenching story
that will undoubtedly haunt me for the
rest of my life. It was beautiful yet poignant, and had me in an
emotional wreck of laughter and tears (sometimes at the same time).
I was very intrigued by the
personification of Death as the narrator of this book, especially as
Death was portrayed in a rather positive light - a weary being who
had the tiresome job of collecting the souls of the deceased for all
of eternity. But as he goes around collecting souls, he witnesses
scenes of horror, treachery, and discrimination which the human race
inflicts upon others who should be treated as their equals. Death is
“exhausted
with his eternal existence and afraid of humans due to the
obliteration we have perpetrated on each other throughout the ages.”
(Markus Zusak). He tells the story of The Book Thief to prove to
himself that humans are actually worth it, and after witnessing the
incredibly heroic actions of characters such as Liesel, Hans, Rudy,
and Max, he decides that humans are not really so bad. Humans are
capable of so much evil (as exemplified through the happenings of the
Holocaust), but at the same time, there are humans who are
incredible. They take enormous risks where they have a lot to lose
and nothing to gain. Death learns that humans can be worthwhile and
beautiful, even in the ugliest of times. Further, humanity is complex
and layered. Characters suffer cruel fates but also are great
examples of the power of personal sacrifice, heroism, friendship, and
courage. Even with a horrific backdrop, no one can strip a character
of their spirit and humanity, and ultimately this book is a portrayal
of the triumph of human nature. I was also pleasantly surprised when
I realized that this book was written from the perspective of a
German girl, rather than the typical Holocaust stories which are told
from the Jewish viewpoint. It really exemplifies how the Holocaust
did not just affect the Jews, but rather all of Germany and
surrounding countries; Liesel and her German friends and family are
subjected to fates just as atrocious as those of the Jewish
population.
My
favorite part of this book was the writing. Markus Zusak has a style
of writing that I have never experienced before, and I doubt I will
ever have the fortune to come across again. His writing is beautiful
and elegant with a touch of mystery that gives the whole book a
sullen undertone. He manages to put humor and horror together in the
same sentence while still maintaining his ever-present haunting and
poetic feel. He truly is a literary marvel who expertly manipulates
language to create a vivid landscape in my mind. And how he does all
this and still allows room for personal interpretation of his writing
is absolutely beyond me. By this I mean that a single one of his
lines can be interpreted hundred's of different ways depending on the
experiences and emotions of the reader. As for the characters, Zusak uses his phenomenal power over language to
give his characters depth and make them “real”. He constructs
them from words and slowly builds and develops them at just the right
pace that I begin to love them without even knowing it myself. I
loved each and every one of his characters, but if I were to choose a
favorite it would have to be Hans. He was so fatherly and caring to
Liesel and on the outside he seemed to be a rather boring and typical
character. But as the story progressed, so did my understanding of
Hans, and I realized he was a complex and dimensional character who
had gone through countless struggles throughout his life. The turning
point for me in regards to Hans was when he chose to present a dying
Jew with a piece of bread, an action which he knew could have cost
him his life. It showed me that in the face of conflict, Hans Hubermann
chooses to do what he believes is moral and correct where he has
everything to lose and nothing to gain.
I find it difficult to go into this book in terms of technical elements because The Book Thief is more of a piece of art than a piece of writing. It is constituted of a multitude of shades and colours which make it a literary genius. There are tons of Holocaust books out there, but I promise you will never ever come across one that touches your heart as much as The Book Thief.
I'll leave you with a few of my favorite quotes from the book to ponder.
“People observe the colors of a day only at its beginnings and ends, but to me it's quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations with each passing moment. A single hour can consist of thousands of different colors. Waxy yellows, cloud-spot blues. Murky darkness. In my line of work, I make it a point to notice them.”
“So much good, so much evil. Just add water.”
“I am haunted by humans.”
