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iarlais's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
It's embarrassing that I should even try and write this review. Associating my pitiful prose with this magnificent masterpiece just feels wrong. It's describing the indescribable, articulating the appearance of a biblical angel.
But I did say I'd try, and it fits in that this book is full of triers. Spoilers ahead, because I'd find it hard to get into why this is a perfect piece of literature without delving into the plot.
I'll say the first of many obvious things and proclaim Death to be the greatest narrator of all time, and for The Book Thief to contain the greatest characterisation of death ever. I really do think it holds an indisputable claim to that throne. Death isn't exactly kind, but he's far from harsh or cruel. He's consistently sensible and rational. Hearing about someone who tries to enjoy the little things in life (maybe the wrong word) while going about his depressing job is greatly compelling, and it makes him feel very human, though I suppose telling him that would make him feel haunted. A friend of mine put it nicely when he said "It's the difference between a god of death and a god of the dead." Death here very clearly falls into the latter category, whereas Castlevania, or Puss in Boots 2's Death(s) fall into the former. Personally, after reading or watching versions of the entity where he's a mad murdering machine, it's so novel to read about an incarnation of this spirit that's again, not kind, but sympathetic to the plight of others.
So that's a whole paragraph on the narrator. Like I'm telling ya, this is just an impossible work to adequately review. If I'm not careful, I'll write a Wikipedia synopsis.Â
How about our characters? Well, when Himmel Street isn't being bombed, or marched on by Nazis with tortured Jews in tow, we've got an entirely character-driven story on our hands, and that is honestly such a rare accomplishment. It's so difficult to write a story where almost everything revolves around a character's motivations and not the events that surrounds them, but this is an exceptional work of art, after all. Everybody in this novel is so unbelievably fleshed out. Every chapter builds character, or if not, pushes the story forward, which results in some astounding pacing. Nothing is drawn-out, Death wants you to spend as many moments with the community of Himmel Street as possible.
The motifs are truly brilliant too. The book's foreshadowing is immaculate, and when it foregoes foreshadowing for outright telling you the ending, you'd think it'd ruin said ending but it somehow only strengthens it. I don't really know how Zuzak does it, but my theory is as follows: informing the reader of the ending lessens the shock value, true, but the shock isn't what he values. He drops the knowledge of the ending so that the reader can appreciate the time they have with Himmel Street more. It's like, I don't know, appreciating your last moments with a loved one because you know a certain someone is preparing to whisk a soul away. Since the character building is already so effective, it makes the inevitable conclusion that haunts us in the leadup all the more impactful. Two of Zuzak's many strengths working in tandem.
Liesel Meminger acts a great protagonist of my favourite fictional book ever written. Having a coming-of-age story set within a time where morality and kindness is so crucial is genius. Hans, Rosa, Max and her make for such a beautiful family, the strong beating heart that gives the book its blood. They are the core, and she is the core's core.
But I've saved the best for last. What truly makes this novel stand out from any I've ever read is its command of languages. Zuzak is an absolute fiend for using words in new and mind-boggling ways. I felt my jaw drop so many times during my reading, not so much for the plot as the awe-inspiring use of his vocabulary. I genuinely do not understand how someone can be so creative with words that have existed for hundreds of years, he truly makes the English language his personal weapon of choice in his quest to astound.
That's my attempt done anyways. The Book Thief is one of the finest works of art ever conceived. I see no reason why this shouldn't be held to the same acclaim as any classical text that survives to today. Plain and simple, it's a masterpiece, and I think I will be kept waiting for some time before I find a contender to its spot as my favourite literary work of fiction ever written.Â
Graphic: Antisemitism, Gore, Child death, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Slavery
Moderate: Genocide
k4iyuuu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Deportation, Violence, War, Bullying, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Murder, and Slavery
It’s about the n@zi Germany so yeaha_d_maillet'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
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Genocide, Slavery, War, Child death, Death, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Grief
bookmark3brodi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Graphic: Slavery, Deportation, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Child death, Colonisation, Religious bigotry, Body horror, Physical abuse, War, Abandonment, and Blood
percys_panda_pillow_pet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Still, I cannot help but think I was...not disappointed but perhaps unenlightened, might be the best word here. Forgive me if I get a tad poetic here with my writing, I just think at least in my language I can do justice to a book that has done so much for others that it could not do for me. At this time in my life, I have already read several first-hand accounts of WWII, particularly from either the US or Jewish perspectives. Night by Elie Wiesel that I read in 8th grade comes to mind, a popular reading for school. I just don't think The Book Thief was necessary for me to read now.
Don't get me wrong, the novel isn't terrible by any means, and my star rating will reflect that feeling, but I don't need it. I know there are some out there that do, and that is where the book's value lies. I didn't need it to tell me there were good people in Germany at the time, I didn't need it to tell me there are innocents on both sides, to show me the absolute tragedy war is. I already knew all that and more. Zusak's writing is beautiful, and while the story was a bit slow-paced in the first quarter of the novel, I really zoomed through the rest of it, sitting on the edge of my seat when the tension was the highest. He really is an accomplished author, knowing exactly when to make a new section and ratchet up suspense for the reader. But when all was said and done, I felt myself questioning, "What else?" Sure, it's an important story, no doubt about that. But I wanted to know about the afterward. How do you come back from all that sorrow and anguish and persecution?
WWII books love to go on and on about the Holocaust and its effects, good to learn about absolutely, but I want to know about those who survived the camps, where did they go? What about the propaganda? That doesn't disappear overnight. Neither does the hatred. I'm just sort of done with stories like this, or The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I'm done with the pain. I need hope too.
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, Suicide, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Death, Death of parent, Child death, Police brutality, and War
Moderate: Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, and Slavery
malley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Hate crime, Torture, War, Child death, and Genocide
Moderate: Cursing, Racism, Police brutality, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Death of parent, and Suicide
empathreads'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: Blood, Violence, Car accident, Death, Grief, Police brutality, Slavery, Alcohol, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicide, War, Confinement, and Death of parent
milly_7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Religious bigotry, War, Racism, Torture, and Slavery
Minor: Cursing
misosoupp31'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? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child death, War, Violence, Death of parent, Death, Religious bigotry, Slavery, and Suicide
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: Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Antisemitism, Child death, Confinement, Genocide, Religious bigotry, Death, Death of parent, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Police brutality, Suicide, Bullying, Colonisation, Slavery, Violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Cursing, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, and Physical abuse