📖 Book : The Book Thief
📖 Author: Markus Zusak
📖 Genre: Historical Fiction
📖 Pages: 592
📖 Publication: 2010, Penguin Books
📖 Book cost: ₹ 248

Blogpost by Dhanu

4.9⭐️/5

This is the book that keeps me engaged after quite a few days of reading. It takes me into it with the entire events in the life of the book thief.

The novel takes place during the reign of Nazi Germany. The story blooms with the narration of Death himself. It sets the mood for the grim and gloomy setting of the period during World War II. Liesel Meminger is the protagonist of the novel. The story revolves around the course of her life after her mother gave her up for adoption.

The beginning of the novel itself stamps the grievance of Liesel’s little brother while boarding a train with her to Molching to meet their foster family. The place is where the entire novel takes its twists and turns and provides a home and new parents for Liesel.

After her brother’s burial, the first theft of the book thief took place. It is none other than Liesel herself. Even though Liesel doesn’t know how to read the alphabet, she has grown obsessed with books. Thus, it leads to stealing after stealing and safeguarding them as her souvenirs, as if they were her valuable possessions.

At Molching, the foster care lady sends Liesel to Hubermann’s family of the former veteran, Hans, who is now making his livelihood as a painter and accordionist, and Rosa Hubermann. The story focuses on how Liesel adapts to the new and strange life in Molching and how the Nazi government unfolds its narcissistic reign by destroying the lives of her and the people around her.

The language of this novel is so lucid and beginner-friendly. Even though it is quite a fat book with over 500 pages, it didn’t overwhelm me as a reader. The writing style has the flow of the plot and provides a strong base for the setting. It vividly captures the terrific lives of the people in Germany during the 1940s.

The characters take place in the novel for unique purposes and have been cleverly met. Each character has their own development as the plot moves forward. Especially the notable characters such as Max, the hidden Jew. Rudy Steiner, Liesel’s best friend, and Isla Hermann, the mayor’s wife, have strengthened the setting of the novel.

The novel has expressed the constraint of integrity towards your once-close friends or neighbors after certain futility of the rulers that prized the lives of innocents. To experience the helplessness of the people during the 1940s, this book will be one of your immense aids.
x Dhanu