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ashley_1206's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
i sobbed so uncontrollably i don’t even think i’m in the headspace for writing a review right now so that isn’t going to happen.
however i would like to dedicate my 50th book of the year to this masterpiece. the pain was insufferable.
okay i’m back! this book was a masterpiece. it didn’t have to absolutely destroy my heart the way it did but i still love it. the book being written by death was so chef’s kiss. but truly you haven’t experienced a heart breaking book until you read this one.
it will rip you apart. even if you don’t read historical fiction (which i don’t) it doesn’t matter. you will enjoy this book because this book is absolute art.
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Classism
naiu_cs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Child death, Death, Suicide, Violence, and War
Minor: Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
laneys_library's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit
saoreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War
_0_'s review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
kyarabereading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I love the attention to detail Zusak clearly put into this book. This is a book that seems like it took a lot of Zusak's time and research - and all that hard work truly paid off. Everything is so, so real. The characters, the location, the historical events - they all create a story that is so incredibly real. So, so honest. It makes you fall in love with the characters. It makes you feel their pain. It makes it hurt that much more when they're hurt, especially when you realize this story was a reality for many people in 1940s Germany. This book does not sugarcoat the effects of the Holocaust or everyone's participation in it - everyone from the Hitler fanatic to the complaisant supporter. It does not sugarcoat how WWII hurt so many people. It's tragic to see how all this built up, to see what people did because of fear and hatred. What they did for survival.
I also love the creative choices Zusak makes in this book. For one, having Death as a narrator was a choice that really strengthened the book as a whole. Death as a narrator along with Zusak's way with words (along with his writing style and structure and loveable characters and etc., etc., etc.) is a combination that formed some of the most beautiful writing I have seen. Zusak also showed us how all the stories, all the moments in this book are intertwined with each other. I like how some stories remind us of things we have already seen or provide us with foreshadowing for what is coming up. It makes this book entertaining to read every single time.
I think what I love the most about this book is what it teaches us. It is a study of humanity and human nature from a distant point of view. Death is amazed by, terrified by, interested in humans. To quote the book directly, Death is "haunted" by us. It makes me think about my own humanity and that of the people around me. But it does not just make me think about the bad side of humanity, it makes me think about all the good too. The book reminds me of all the beautiful parts of other human beings - people's selflessness, kindness, trust, love, etc., etc., etc. The book also teaches the importance of words. They can be influential. They can be harmful. They can be helpful. They can be life-changing. They can be used as a weapon, but they can also be used for good.
Markus Zusak wrote a book that is so beautifully written and impactful. May I never forget how it made me feel. May I never forget his words.
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Excrement and Alcohol
maeverose's review against another edition
2.5
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Minor: Alcohol
brownieboo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Abandonment, and Colonisation
Minor: Cursing, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism
hoarde_of_words's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, and Alcohol