The Book Thief by Markus Zusak a Book Review

Occasionally I like to step away from the different genre's I enjoy reading and pick up something that I feel will be a bit more fulfilling in an educational sort of way.  Which is why when I was stuck at an airport for a while and browsing the available books I decided to choose The Book Thief.

I really didn't know what to expect and I'll be honest it took me about 30 pages before I really got into it, and became used to the unique writing.  Having death as the narrator was interesting and took a bit of getting used to at first, because I kept forgetting it was death and thinking it was a character at first.  But that may just have been me.

This is a story about a young girl Liesel who loses her family, and then her brother and is basically left orphaned.  Little does she know she is about to define herself and possibly the rest of her life.  Picking up a book The Grave Digger's Handbook out of the snow at taking it with her.  From a young age she realizes she has a massive love for books, and when her foster father teaches her to read it opens her world up into possibilities she never imagined.

Its a very dangerous time in Germany, it's 1939 an death is on every one's door step.  Liesel, steals a book here and a book there to help uplift her life.
Liesel's foster father one day surprises her by hiding a Jewish man in their basement.  At first Liesel is annoyed and isn't sure about the risks.  But finds herself loving this man, and looking forward to the time she spends with him.  That includes reading to him chapters of her stolen books.

Event after event take place, and although the story itself isn't exactly one you would smile and be happy with.  Reading it does give you a sense of appreciation for what not only the Jews went through during Hitler's reign, but also what the German's went through.  Both the ones who supported and hated their Nazi leader during the time.

But you also get brought into a story of hope, and loss that will sit with you deeply.  Although it took me a bit longer than normal to get through this book.  I really enjoyed it and I am glad I took the chance to try something new and different from what I normally read.
This book is uniquely and beautifully written, that is a guarantee.  But if you enjoy a story that is both a learning experience and one that can give you a deeper appreciation of a time when the world was far more crazy, and death was around every corner.  Then I highly recommend you taking the time to read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.
Now I can go and check out the movie:)  I've been holding of on watching it until I finished the book first.