The Book Thief

  I would say this weather calls for a good read at the end of the night, or during naptime, or any other time of the day in which you enjoy a few stolen moments.  But, then again, I am always looking for an excuse to read all day.  I’m forever looking for the next good book. I am that annoying person who says, “You should read…”

   And so, while this cooler weather is conducive to reading on the sofa with a throw over your legs, I’ll leave the excuse of choice up to you.  I will, however, recommend a book bi-monthly for those who, like me, tear through books as quickly as you can choose a new one to devour.

   It was a surprisingly difficult task; choosing the first book to introduce to this unofficial book club.  Do I choose one of my annual reads?  Do I choose something I’ve read recently or the book I’m currently reading?  Do I choose something in touch with the season or the Political climate?  Given that this blog is primarily written for the Military family, do I choose something patriotic?  Each time I started writing about one book, another would crowd my thoughts and I would find myself deleting 5 minutes worth of lengthy recommendation.  Needless to say, I’ve grown quite annoyed with myself…Which, is actually a fairly regular occurrence, so bear with me…After all that, I will begin, what is hopefully a long and endearing book list, with one that is close to my heart and encompasses everything previously mentioned. 

   In 2006, Australian author, Markus Zusak published his amazing novel The Book Thief.  A few years later my mother (whom I love greatly) gave me this book for my birthday.  It is a story that is both cleverly unique and inspiring.  I have so many favorite novels, and they all have one thing in common: The Human Condition (you can thank my AP English teacher for making me so keen on that theme). 

   It is the wonderfully rich story of nine-year-old Liesel Meminger, as told by Death (the narrator), who is both benign and sympathetic, and describes moments through color.  Death first meets Liesel in the late 1930s at her brother’s funeral.  He passed away on a train while their mother was taking them to Molching, Germany to be raised by foster parents.  It is during this funeral, that Liesel steals her first book: The Grave Digger’s Handbook. Although she is unable to read or write, she keeps the book as a memento of her brother.  As World War II progresses, she steals books from the Mayor’s library (hence the title) as a coping mechanism as the world falls apart around her.

   Filled with delightful nuance and sentiment, this book makes me laugh on one page and sob on the next.  It is real; written with raw emotion and intent.  Rarely will you read a book which champions imagery as well as Zusak manages to do in The Book Thief.  The characters are well developed and it is easy to become lost in their lives as you quickly consume page after page. 

   On a more informative note (and not nearly as fun) The Book Thief has 574 pages and the genre is Historical-Fiction.  My prediction is that you will quickly tear through this book and thoroughly enjoy yourself.  It is not a happy book, but it is one which will make you feel more in touch with humanity, as books about the human condition often do.