THE BOOK THIEF: Markus Zusak

 

Source: The Book Thief ebook

GENERAL OVERVIEW:

RATINGS:4.9/5(It's flawless)
GENRE: War, Novel-Historical Fiction
DATE OF PUBLICATION:2005
AUTHOR: Markus Zusak

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Markus Zusak was born on  23 June 1975 and is an Australian writer with Austrian and German roots.
Zusak was born in Sydney, Australia where his mother Lisa is originally from Germany and his father Joseph is from Austria. They emigrated to Australia in the late 1950s.
Markus is the youngest of four children where he attended Engadine High School. He studied English and history at the University of New South Wales, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education.

His other notable works are:

The Underdog (1999) 

Ruben Wolfe (2000),

When Dogs Cry (2001)

Messenger (2002)

The Book Thief (2005)

Bridge of Clay (2018)

INTRODUCTION:

The novel is about the adventures of Liesel Meminger in Nazi Germany during the Second World War. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier and will be busier still.
Death is so personified in the book that it takes the prestigious place of being a narrator.

The plot follows Liesel Meminger in Nazi Germany during the Second World War. She is just a child when she is being a part of Himmel Street in Molching. Though she represents the poor part of the town she is surrounded by her loved ones who make her happy and content despite the little food they put on the table.

With her first act of book thievery; she begins a love affair with books and words. She is continuously attracted to the play of words and books.  Liesel, with the help of her accordion-playing foster father, learns to read.

There are continuous events of war and long-lasting discrimination between the Jewish and the Germans.

ANALYSIS:

This is the first book in months that I completed within three days. This is so miraculously superb and charming and captivating in an insidious manner. At least it made me catch up with the book until it is finished. And once it is finished you won't believe it's finished already.

The other great thing about the novel is its narrator. In the beginning, it is a bit confusing who " I" is representing. Is it the girl or someone else??
And when you come to know who the actual narrator is; carrying on with all those dismantled souls and talking with the readers in the first tense you are alarmed. The way the narrator narrates at the end of the novel is too heart-touching and emotional. It triggers you with every sentiment inside you to leave your head struck.
It is so cool to write a war novel from the eyes of an eleven years old girl. Girl despite being a book thief, the reader validates her stealing. For she steals one book at a time and from them who are always willing to let her steal inconspicuously. And most importantly she learns to read and understand the meaning of the words. This stealing leads to a major purpose during war raids and bombings that helps to calm all her neighbours.
This particular book stealing leads her through a process that eventually saves her life. So for me, her book thieving is not booked stealing at all. It leads to a positive purpose.

I find the characters well illustrated and greatly connected to the readers. Even if you are not exactly the name you tend to make a true guess of who the actual character is. 

It makes you realize that every German during then Nazi Germany was not as evil as it is portrayed. They were poor but they had a heart of gold. They had sympathy and empathy for the Jews despite their poverty.
The overall story which is so relatable in the contemporary context of Nepal; is sure to leave the reader's cheek soaked in tears.
The story of the young girl in Nazi Germany is so relatable to Anne Frank. The only difference is Anne being the Jews and Leisel is German. 

CRITICISM:

The only criticism I had for this novel is that it is too short. The stories are so soothing and smooth that you won't realise the author has already left the readers hanging. But not for too long. The author reveals every secret from the beginning. This too leaves the reader content. It would have been better if the author would not reveal all those secrets. It is sometimes wonderful to let the secret remain a secret.

The other thing is the author is too revealing. He tells the ending and the climax at the very beginning of every chapter. This may lead to not letting most of the readers continue any further. But what I admire is the author tells himself that it is his weaker point to not be able to keep anything in his stomach.

However, all those criticism are his strong points too that makes a huge difference from the other novels.

The literary description of some of the events like the weather and friendship and war is funny in-between the Holocaust. The author is so dramatic at some points. But it makes the story a page-turner.

MY CLOSING THOUGHTS:

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I still have an impact on all the characters by having each and everyone with a distinct personality.

It is one of that literary gems that includes proverbs that are so useful as a life lesson. The words taught by Papa, Mama, and Rudy are so heart-touching and you will remember them live long.

HAPPY READING💕💞

BY SANJITA NAPIT