Just Perfect
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
Go check this book out or buy it right now. Or the audio version - the reader (Allan Corduner) is wonderful. I started out listening to it in the car but I soon realized that this book had a lot of visual elements so I checked out the book and I started reading it. But then I missed Corduner’s voice so I started listening to sections after I’d read them. Now I’ve finished reading it and am listening to the end and it haunts me.
The book thief is a girl named Leisel Meminger and her story is organized according to the books she has stolen. Each one is significant in its own way. Her story is narrated by Death which sounds ridiculous but it really works. Death doesn’t enjoy his job, he endures it. War is the boss constantly pushing him to get more work done. Death distracts himself with colors and the sky so he doesn’t get bogged down by the humans. Humans scare him and fascinate him. Sound familiar? Oh, and there is no scythe, and the black hooded robe is only if it is raining.
This is set in Nazi Germany and covers so many things that a summary would feel a bit ridiculous. What is more important is the characters and the way they are described, the way this stunning book is written. Hans Hubermann is warm silver metal and a cart of paint and an accordion. Rosa Hubermann is a cardboard wardrobe with a wooden spoon and an iron fist. Rudy’s hair is lemon-colored and Max’s hair is like twigs when he first arrives but after a bath it is like feathers. You see?
I didn’t want to finish this book, I dragged out reading the end slowly because I didn’t want it to end. I knew what was going to happen because Death tells us well in advance. He himself questions why he spoils the ending this way. But it doesn’t ruin it. It makes you savor each bit leading up to what you know is coming that much more.
What a beautiful book, this one will linger with me a long time, I can tell. I’m officially going to add this book to my mental list of my favorite books of all time. I believe this author has another book out which I will be requesting promptly. But really, go read this book.
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