Review: The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak

Title: The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak
Publication Date: March 14, 2006
Genre: Historical Fiction

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul. -Goodreads

5 Stars

“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.” 

Warning: this will probably read less as a review and more as a love letter...of sorts.

I read this book three years ago, and to this day, The Book Thief still haunts me, silently but steadily remaining in the back of my mind. Three years ago, it was almost impossible for me to write a review for this novel, and it is unbearably difficult for me to muster up the words still.

Movie Review: The Book Thief

A few weeks ago, I finally had the chance to watch a book-movie adaptation of one of my favorite novels, The Book Thief. Rarely has a movie impacted me to this extent, and I'm quite satisfied with how true the movie stayed to this beloved book of mine.

Cover Wars #1: The Book Thief

I feel like I've seen this feature on dozens of blogs, so I decided to give it a try! Today I will be comparing the US cover, the Australian cover, and the foreign (UK) cover.

The Book Thief is a book I, and many others, hold very dearly, so I take the covers (and anything associated with it, really) very seriously. I'll be judging the cover based on how well it reflects the content of the book, and also the visual appeal of the cover overall.

On a random note, for those of you that aren't in the know, the movie is coming out in 2 MONTHS. *squee*

Australian cover

The depiction of the setting on the cover is pretty accurate, giving the book a bit of an eery feel to it. I'm not the biggest fan of that person on the cover though. (I would say it is Death, the narrator, but that's not exactly how I imagined him.)

US cover

The scene that the US cover is trying to portray is one of the scenes with my favorite character in it *cough* The one with the lemon-colored hair *cough*, but in my opinion it isn't the most significant scene in the novel.

UK/foreign cover

The UK cover illustrates Liesel, the protagonist, dancing (?) with death. I guess that can hold some sort of symbolism to it. I love the more oldish, worn-out look the background gives off, which really adds to its visual attractiveness.

AND THE WINNER IS....

The UK cover! 

In my opinion, I feel that the UK cover does a relatively good job of displaying The Book Thief. I am not the biggest fan of the others. It's not that they aren't good-looking; they are simply missing the captivating look the UK/foreign cover gives off.

Which is your favorite cover?

Review: I Am the Messenger, by Markus Zusak

Title: I Am the Messenger

Author: Markus Zusak

Genre: Mystery

Pub. Date: May 9, 2006

protect the diamonds
survive the clubs
dig deep through the spades
feel the hearts

Ed Kennedy is an underage cabdriver without much of a future. He's pathetic at playing cards, hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey, and utterly devoted to his coffee-drinking dog, the Doorman. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery.

That's when the first ace arrives in the mail.

That's when Ed becomes the messenger.

Chosen to care, he makes his way through town helping and hurting (when necessary) until only one question remains: Who's behind Ed's mission?

Upon reading and completing The Book Thief, I somehow knew, without trace of uncertainty or doubt, that Markus Zusak is a literary genius.

Only he could have such unmistakable and beautiful prose.

Only he could create such perfectly written characters.

Only he knows how to captivate his audience and manipulate their feelings to this extent.

I bought this book almost compulsively, not knowing a thing about the story and going in completely blind. While not a tearjerker like The Book Thief, I Am the Messenger is magnificent in its own right. Even comparing the two books feels wrong, because they are much too different.

"What would you do if you were me? Tell me. Please tell me!

But you’re far from this. Your fingers turn the strangeness of these pages that somehow connect my life to yours. Your eyes are safe. The story is just another few hundred pages of your mind. For me, it’s here. It’s now. I have to go through this, considering the cost at every turn. Nothing will be the same."

Zusak gives us a generous amount of humorous dialogue to lighten up some of the more serious moments. Like a friend of mine put it, a tragicomedy.

Ed Kennedy is the main character of this book, a 19-year-old tax-driver. He’s a bit of a failure in life, both by his and others’ standards. Nonetheless, I enjoyed have him as a narrator. Something about the way he looks at life in general is so unique. His commentary on everyday happenings and people is downright hilarious. Like I said, one of the best narrators I've ever had the pleasure to read about, and somehow made the novel a million times more entertaining.

"Have you ever noticed that idiots have a lot of friends?

It’s just an observation.”

Ed’s best friend and my favorite character, Marv, is an arrogant taxi-driver who is overly fond of his beat-up car. He comes across as a jerk at the beginning of the book, but by the end, you will love him.

Most of all, it was the simple things that made me love this story in all of its greatness. Things like…

A coffee drinking dog.
A swearing priest.
Barefoot soccer.
Morning runs.
Christmas lights.
A pathetic criminal.

Sometimes, I did find myself tearing up in the midst of laughing, due to the sheer beauty of some of the moments. These moments were very touching, and like every good book does, inspired me to try to be a better person.

The ending. Oh, the ending. I’m not lying nor exaggerating when I say that Zusak is a genius. It took a while for my mind to comprehend it, but when I understood, I was MIND. BLOWN.

I am supremely and eternally grateful for picking up this book. I know for a fact that this book will not leave me anytime soon.

“Sometimes people are beautiful.

Not in looks.

Not in what they say.

Just in what they are.”