Today I'm reviewing The Books Thief by Markus Zusak. This really is a good book. It's darker then the books I usually read, but when a book takes place during WWII then it's going to be at least a little dark. 

 

The book is about a girl named Liesel Meminger, who is taken in by Hans and Rosa Hubermann in Nazi Germany during the early parts of World War II.  During her stay on Himmel Street, she makes a habit of stealing books from the mayors house.

 

Liesel is one of my favorite characters of the book. Even though I don't condone stealing, I can totally relate to her love for books, and words. I love how she wants to learn to read, and is always eager to read a new book.

 

Rudy Steiner is Liesel's best friend who tries to kiss her trough out most of the book. They have interesting relationship where they're constantly calling each other names. I love Rudy, and I love his and Liesel's friendship.

 

I like Liesel's foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann, as well. I instantly loved Hans, he is such a good father to Liesel. I like Rosa, though she was rude to Liesel for a godd portion of the book. As the book goes on, Rosa and Liesel, get along a lot better, and we learn the Rosa really loved Liesel.

 

I also really like Max. He is a really good character, and he and Liesel become good friends with Liesel because they both love books.

 

My favorite part has to be when Lesel steals the book from the bonfire. The ending, in my opinion, was both sad and satisfying, [spoiler] I was sad that the street that Liesel lived on was bombed, [spoiler] I was sad that Hans, Rosa, and Rudy died in the bombing. I was happy though to find out that he lived and was reunited with Liesel: it showed that Liesel didn't loose everyone she loved. I also like that Liesel was able to move on, get married, and have kids, etc.

 

This really is a good book. Well done, Marcus Zusak.

“The best word shakers were the ones who understand the true power of words. They were the ones who could climb the highest. One such word shaker was a small, skinny girl. She was renowned as the best word shaker of her region because she knew how powerless a person could be without words.”

Recommended at The Angry Black Woman here.

The writing in this book reminded me a bit of Daughter of Smoke and Bone, but if Laini Taylor uses bold and vivid colours, Neesha Meminger's tones are muted, pastel-like.

The ideas of the book were gorgeous - time travel to the mysterious ancient civilisation of Zanum, talented individuals able to manipulate the Dark, an evil mastermind who's been catching Ables and harvesting their energy through the ages...

...but I could not for the life of me immerse myself into the plot completely. Pammi's inner voice is wry and clever, but it's detached enough that whatever happens to her you don't feel much. Does it make any sense?

She is a lovely Indian girl with a caring misguided mom. What she experienced in the past when her mom took her to the psychologist concerned for her mental health makes a great impact on her present when she starts working with the girls who suffer from similar "mental problems". The girls are an interesting bunch, but again their personalities are muted enough that you don't feel much for them. I would say that Pammi is at her strongest with her boyfriend in Zanum. There you feel some connection.

The writing is really simplistic, and there is a certain charm in it. Overall, I liked the book, but it did not take me by storm as they say. However, the plot is interesting and refreshing, so don't let my imressions turn you away from this novel.

3.5. The narration was such pitch perfect teenage girl (complete with enthusiastic punctuation and emotional outbursts) that you almost got the sense that Jazz was telling you her story off the top of her head. The effect was both authentic and endearing. Even though the plot was simple, it was told in an engagingly sweet way. More lighthearted than deep, but overall pretty charming.