"It is 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..."
Rarely does a book leave me speechless. The Book Thief is astonishing. It is intriguing, unsettling, elegant and extraordinary. It is a book that makes me stop, put down the book and just sit, savoring the words. Images linger, haunting my thoughts long after the the book has been returned to it's shelf. This is a book to read slowly. Zusak's words have substance and weight, they need time to be digested.
There are many books I love. Even more that I like. I collect them. They fill the shelves that line my walls. This book surpasses them. It is one of the few that have stolen their way into my heart.
I read this book about a year ago on your recommendation and it was indeed very touching and poignant. Even though I only read it the one time I still find myself thinking of the characters and themes he depicts. When my husband's grandma came out to visit this spring she found it and read it cover to cover. She grew up in Germany and lived through many of the same events herself and the book reminded her of much that she had forgotten.
ReplyDeleteI should warn everyone though that it can be a terribly heart-wrenching tale at times. Even worse than when I browse the humane society's or foster kids registry and see the faces and profiles for all the children and animals in my area who have been abandoned and are looking for homes.
Coming from you, who I know has read more books so far than I'll probably read in my lifetime, this is a serious recommendation. I may have to add it to my to-read list.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the wide world of blogging. Guess I need to get off the computer and read that book.
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