The Book Thief

So many people blogged about The Book Thief during short term that I decided I had to see what all the fuss was about.  I read it over the summer and enjoyed it very much.  Zusak's characters were compelling and believable -  from Death's wry wit and resplendent metaphors to Hans Hubermann's gentle presence to the irony of Mama's affectionate swearing.  I even grew fond of Death.  And now I know where the tittle of Greg's blog comes from!

Death himself narrates the story of Liesel Meminger, a German girl growing up in under Hitler's rise to power.  Death's perspective on humanity is sometimes surprising and often profound. He becomes fascinated Liesel when he comes to take the soul of her younger brother and begins to follow her life.  As you can imagine, the story is full of both personal and political intrigue.

Markus Zusak (See interview below) is a rising star in the world of young novelists.  According to his website, he has written four novels before The Book Thief. His other books are  The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, Getting the Girl and I Am the Messenger.  Zusak is the recipient of a 2006 Printz Honor for excellence in young adult literature. He lives in Sydney. 

One of my favorite aspect of the book was its emphasis on the power, beauty and magic of words.  Zusak's writing style is innovative and poetic.  The Book Thief is a book of books.