Thursday, April 9, 2009

The Book Thief (Reread)


Author: Markus Zusak
Originally published : 2006
Length: 552 pages
Awards: Printz Honor Book Award, National Jewish Book Award,
Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Children's Literature
Personal Enjoyment Rating: 5/5

Amazon Rating: 4.5/5 (537 Customer Reviews)
Goodreads: 19,585 ratings, 4.52 average rating


If you've read this already, you'll understand the format! Whether you've read it or not, you'll probably detect a bit of gushing:

***AN IMPORTANT NOTE***
ABOUT READING THE BOOK THIEF
It takes a little while to get used to the rhythm of the writing and to get used to the narration by death, but KEEP GOING. It will all be worth it.

***HERE IS A SMALL FACT***
All five members of my book club enjoyed this book.

***A SMALL EXCERPT FROM***
THE BOOK THIEF
“A human doesn't have a heart like mine. The human heart is a line, whereas my own is a circle, and I have the endless ability to be in the right place at the right time...Humans, if nothing else, have the good sense to die.” (Death speaking)

***A DEFINITION***
Genius: a person endowed with transcendent mental superiority

***A DEFINITION NOT FOUND***
IN THE DICTIONARY
Markus Zusak = Genius

***A SMALL SUGGESTION***
Read slowly and savor each word.

***A SMALL ADDITION***
I have notes on The Book Thief here in which I gush even more.

Since I didn't really say much about the book, here are some other reviews of The Book Thief:

Maw Books Blog
In the Shadow of Mt. TBR
Five Minutes for Books
The Bluestocking Society
Trish's Reading Nook
Becky's Book Reviews
Rebecca Reads
The Hidden Side of a Leaf
What KT Reads
Bloggin' Bout Books
The Library Queue
Things Mean a Lot
Jules' Book Reviews

I'm sure I'm missing a ton of reviews--if you have one, give me the link!

17 comments:

  1. This has been on my TBR list for awhile, I'm currently waiting for it to be delivered to my library branch. I placed a hold/ordered it and waited on the list for a long time. Now in the next day our so, it will be in my hands. By the reviews I've read, it will be worth the wait.

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  2. I plan to read this for the first time very very soon.

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  3. This is waiting on my shelf. Thanks for helping me decide to kick it up on the list.

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  4. What a great review! Matches the style/feel of the book well.

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  5. Definitely one of my favorites from last year. Glad you liked it too!

    http://libraryqueue.blogspot.com/2008/04/book-thief.html

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  6. Everyone I know who's read this book has adored it. I need to get this very soon!

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  7. I love it! I can't wait to re-read this book...soon!

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  8. Have you read I Am the Messenger? I liked that one, too.

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  9. Clever way to review it!

    I listened to the audiobook, so my experience was quite different. In fact, I had to go find a copy of the book so I could figure out what format it was written in.

    I think it was beautiful, but listening to it, there was a point after 10 hours when I decided that Zuzak tries just a little too hard to be poetic. Did you get get that annoyance? Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed the book....just thought it was a bit over-the-top "poetic."

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  10. Jules,
    I hope you find it worth the wait!

    Amanda,
    I can't wait to hear your thoughts when you do read it--you always touch on things I haven't thought of!

    Book Lover Lisa,
    This is one I would consider buying in the future. Lucky for you you've already got it!

    KT,
    A few people in my book club didn't like his little inserts that were like this. They felt it interrupted the flow. I didn't mind.

    Tricia,
    Thanks for the link. I added it to the list!

    Kitten,
    I hope you like it. I have heard a few people who couldn't make it past the first 100 pages, but I do think it's worth it to continue.

    Trish,
    I liked it even more the second time!

    Charley,
    I have been waiting for I Am the Messenger for months from the library. I think someone must have lost it. Maybe I'll just buy it, because I want to read it soon.

    Rebecca,
    The first time I read this I started with audio, got a glimpse of the actual book, and realized I needed to switch. I did not feel like he was trying to be too poetic. I loved every word. I was pretty caught up in it, but I am also a very forgiving reader, so I may not be the best judge!

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  11. That was gushing! I've got to read this one, soon. It's sitting on my TBR pile.

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  12. I love your review for the book. While you didn't exactly give a "review," summary, pros and cons, etc... You conveyed the experience of reading The Book Thief perfectly ;-) Very clever :-D

    *sigh* I soOOo want to re-read this book.

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  13. I love how you did your review! I want to read this again too. Such a brilliant book. Here's my link.

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  14. This is on my list. I will get to it someday!

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  15. Just review this my self, I made a link on my review to this, hope it's alright :)

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  16. I loved this book! I've posted an excerpt from your review here.

    --Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

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  17. Anyway i can get invited to read your book notes? It worked earlier but now its making me sign in

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