The
Book Thief
by
Markus Zusak
Wow.
Words cannot describe how much I loved this book, what impact it had on me.
But, like Liesel, words is all I have, so I will have to try.
This
is a lyrical, poignant, heartbreaking, soul-shattering story disjointedly told
by a nearly-omniscient, fascinated by humans narrator - Death. Death has plenty
to keep it busy, as the story is set in Nazi Germany during World War II.
And
yet he becomes strangely fascinated with one particular human, the titular book
thief, a young German girl Liesel Meminger, whose childhood is marked by war,
who learns to read and love and treasure books, who has her small rebellions
against the force of society, who learns to love and be loved. Who has to learn
to lose what she loves. Because the world is baffling, because it is a cruel
place, because often it tries to stomp out love and beauty.
The
book is beautifully surreal, with the masterfully written language reflecting
the alien, non-understandable, strangely fascinating nature of the narrator -
Death. It is the mix of colors and strange metaphors, semi-dictionary entries
and frequent strange asides, with skipping time, with complete disregard for
spoilers.
It
will note the strangest things, ruminate about the weirdest subjects, and
casually in the middle of a lyrical passage, omnisciently will tell us that
terrible things are about to occur. It is its job to know, after all. And this
prescience does not soften the blows when they finally come; it only brings
anticipatory dread and loving appreciation for things and people while they
still ARE.
Love.
Beauty. And books. This is what the story set against the terrible backdrop of
war is about. Zusak accomplished a difficult feat - making me ache for the
children of the enemy, the children and people of Nazi Germany, because even
when caught in the middle of destruction, even ending up on different sides of
artificial barricades people are still people, still deserving of love, still
beautiful.
This
book is the ode to those who kept their humanity in the middle of war, who were
so human that nothing could ever change that. Rudy Steiner, the boy with the "hair
the color of lemons", who has so much love and integrity and life who was
by Liesel's side since birth.
"He
does something to me, that boy. Every time. It’s his only detriment. He steps
on my heart. He makes me cry."
Hans
and Rosa Hubermann, who possessed so much integrity and courage, who became
real parents to Liesel, who risked everything for what they thought was right.
Max Vandenburg, the Jewish fistfighter, who dreamed of battling Hitler and gave
Liesel the perfect gift with everything he had.
And
Liesel herself, lost and broken, but finding comfort and strength in family,
friends, and books. Liesel, who learns more about the cold cruelty of this
world than most children should ever know. Liesel, who learns to read from the
Gravedigger's handbook, who rescues the book from fire, who would rather steal
books than food, who is not afraid to show kindness in the face of very real
threat, who fascinates even Death itself. All of them remained human despite
the circumstances, despite the pressure to do otherwise, despite anything. And
I love them for that.
This
is a wonderful, lyrical, surreal, excellent book that broke my heart into tiny
little pieces and yet gave me hope that even in the worst of times we can find
beauty.
"I
have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them
right."
End.
