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jcoryv's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book. I imagine this would be a little slow-paced for some, but it's a fantastic story.
lauren_h's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars for originality.
3 stars because I didn't hate it.
3 stars because I cared enough about the main character to be happy how it ended for her.
But goodness this was a tedious read! I found the constant interruptions by the narrator more distracting than clever. I also was not sad at the end because the narrator tells you multiple times what will happen. Some people may enjoy knowing how things will end and reading to find out how it gets there. I'm not one of them. I also could not get into the authors use of metaphors.
3 stars because I didn't hate it.
3 stars because I cared enough about the main character to be happy how it ended for her.
But goodness this was a tedious read! I found the constant interruptions by the narrator more distracting than clever. I also was not sad at the end because the narrator tells you multiple times what will happen. Some people may enjoy knowing how things will end and reading to find out how it gets there. I'm not one of them. I also could not get into the authors use of metaphors.
what_katie_read_in_ca's review against another edition
5.0
Finished it for the 3rd time in anticipation of the film!
jlkopp's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
tamgperkins's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful Book. So moving. One of the best books I've every read.
armstrong029's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ktomkie's review against another edition
3.0
Things I liked about the book
-Author's voice is uniquely visceral; he frames scenes vididly and skillfully
-Characters are easily relatable
-Story is a fresh perpesctive on a heavily literized topic
-Using Death as a narrarator creates a distance from the subject and makes the book feel as though we, like Death, have stolen it and read it. We, like Liesel and Death both, are book thieves. Very insightful.
Things I didn't like about this book
-A little too reminiscent of The Kite Runner, almost as though it was published as a way of tapping the KR market, which is hokey to me. Reasons for thinking this: Similar tropes, similar characters, similar plights, similar rough times, similar outcomes.
-As a narrarator, Death does a little too much telling and not enough showing. I don't mind piecing meaning together myself, and I don't mind waiting til the climax to get to the climax--he reveals his cards early and often; this makes me doubt Zusak's faith in his reader.
-Zusak doesn't do the best job of getting inside the head of Liesel, and by this I mean he seems to lack an understanding of the feminine perspective. Because he's not a female, I can understand, but rather than stretch himself to build a rounded female character, he leaves Liesel a little flat and relies on strongly characterized male figures placed closely in the frame around her to build her character: Hans, Rudy and Max. As a woman reader, it's difficult to swallow a young woman who is so strongly defined by not her own convictions, but those of the men around her. This to me is a great failing of this book.
Worth a read, especially for teens and preteens. Should be fun to discuss with my book club.
-Author's voice is uniquely visceral; he frames scenes vididly and skillfully
-Characters are easily relatable
-Story is a fresh perpesctive on a heavily literized topic
-Using Death as a narrarator creates a distance from the subject and makes the book feel as though we, like Death, have stolen it and read it. We, like Liesel and Death both, are book thieves. Very insightful.
Things I didn't like about this book
-A little too reminiscent of The Kite Runner, almost as though it was published as a way of tapping the KR market, which is hokey to me. Reasons for thinking this: Similar tropes, similar characters, similar plights, similar rough times, similar outcomes.
-As a narrarator, Death does a little too much telling and not enough showing. I don't mind piecing meaning together myself, and I don't mind waiting til the climax to get to the climax--he reveals his cards early and often; this makes me doubt Zusak's faith in his reader.
-Zusak doesn't do the best job of getting inside the head of Liesel, and by this I mean he seems to lack an understanding of the feminine perspective. Because he's not a female, I can understand, but rather than stretch himself to build a rounded female character, he leaves Liesel a little flat and relies on strongly characterized male figures placed closely in the frame around her to build her character: Hans, Rudy and Max. As a woman reader, it's difficult to swallow a young woman who is so strongly defined by not her own convictions, but those of the men around her. This to me is a great failing of this book.
Worth a read, especially for teens and preteens. Should be fun to discuss with my book club.
afrankk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0