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(You can catch up on what my Reading Challenge is all about here.)
I actually finished this one back on July 12 -- I know this because I read most of it on the red-eye and waiting in airports on my way back from California. My vacation was so jam-packed, I didn't have the time I thought I would to read it there.
Book: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Verdict: The first 30 pages or so were a little hard for me to get through, but once I got past that I was completely drawn into this book. It's a story told by Death, about a young orphan in Nazi Germany who is taken in by an older couple in a small town. The girl finds (and steals) her first book by her brother's graveside, and the story follows her as she goes to live with a new family in a new town, is taught how to read by her foster father in the middle of the night, steals more books, and learns the real power of words.
I don't really know how to summarize this book in a way to give it justice, so you just have to take my word for it that you should just go read it. It's incredibly powerful and beautiful; devastatingly sad, yet somehow uplifting.
Next up on the Reading Challenge: Our book club just read I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley, which I'll do a recap of soon. We're currently reading Julie and Julia for our meeting later this month. I also want to read another book from the list soon... I've only read 2 out of 100 so far!
The Book Thief is one of my favorite books. While the Death with a captial D adds some magical realism to the story, it is a very human story at it's heart.
Posted by: Corey Feldman | September 9, 2009 08:03 AM
I loved that book! Definitely a favorite of the past few years. I find it interesting that it's considered a young adult book.
Posted by: Kate | September 3, 2009 11:51 AM