The Book Thief, and the Power of Words: A Review
I find it exceptionally rare to venture across stories that are entirely new and unique in literature. I think there remain only a few novel plots, but most are endless variations that tend to lessen or dull the distinguishing factors of such stories. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, however, was so beautifully crafted with rich symbolism, multi-dimensional and memorable characters, as well as a chilling story line, that I felt invested from the very beginning of the first page, and I felt spent after finishing the last. Zusak draws one in with his vivid use of language and frequent ability to move the reader from laughter to tears. It is an eye-opener into living in Germany during World War II that celebrates and explores the power of words during such a time. Collectively, The Book Thief is more than a young heroine stealing books; it will also steal the reader's heart.
The Book Thief opens with and follows the candid and contemplative, first person-omniscient narration given by Death. I think this perspective sets The Book Thief apart from most other Historical Fiction accounts from the beginning. Using the point of view through Death seems fitting for the tragedy-stained setting of Germany during World War II. Death sets the tone though his cynical, matter-of-fact persona. At the book's opening prologue, Death notes that "you are going to die" (Zusak 1), but that this is "nothing if not fair" (1). Death is bluntly dark, and often his asides or snippets of melodramatic pronouncements are so vivid and hauntingly tragic that they caused me to shudder while reading. I think Zusak's particular choice in narrator further makes The Book Thief so special, because it enabled him to ...
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...ining example to the testimony to the good in humanity, even in these Nazis:""Heil Hitler," I said, but I was well into the trees by then. Behind me, a teddy bear rested on the shoulder of a corpse." (491).
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, was personally, perhaps one of the most moving and profound books I have read. Its unique writing style, voice, and various techniques are crafted in such a way as to open the eyes of the reader to examine one's own life, and follow with a new perspective life in Germany during World War II. Even though the pages are breathed with violence and at times touch sensitive topics, The Book Thief's underlying messages of perseverance, love, and the power of words make it a book certainly worthy of literary merit. Liesel, her books, and those closest to her collectively make this a story that lingers long after the final word is read.
In The Book Thief, author Markus Zusak tells the tragic story of Liesel Meminger and her experiences in 1939 Nazi Germany. Zuzak incorporates compelling literary devices such as toe curling foreshadowing, personification, and vivid imagery in the form of simile and metaphors to grasp the readers’ interest. Zusak’s use of various literary devices helps to deepen the text and morals of the story, and makes the dramatic historical novel nearly impossible to put down.
The chaos and destruction that the Nazi’s are causing are not changing the lives of only Jews, but also the lives of citizens in other countries. Between Night by Elie Wiesel and The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, comradeship, faith, strength, and people of visions are crucial to the survival of principle characters. Ironically, in both stories there is a foreseen future, that both seemed to be ignored.
The heavily proclaimed novel “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak is a great story that can help you understand what living in Nazi Germany was like. Throughout the story, the main character, Liesel goes through many hardships to cope with a new life in a new town and to come to the recognition of what the Nazi party is. Liesel was given up for adoption after her mother gave her away to a new family, who seemed harsh at first, but ended up being the people who taught her all the things she needed to know. Life with the new family didn’t start off good, but the came to love them and her new friend, Rudy. As the book carried along, it was revealed that the Hubermanns were not Nazi supporters, and even took in a Jew and hid him in their basement later on in the book. Liesel became great friends with the Jew living in her basement, Max, who shared many similarities which helped form their relationship. Both of
In Night, Author Elie Wiesel describes his experience in Nazi Hungary and in concentration camps such as Auschwitz and Buchenwald to bring awareness about the horrors of the Holocaust and warn the people about any future atrocities. Furthermore, in The Book Thief, the main character, Liesel Meminger, describes her experience with stealing books and how it helped her survive and stay courageous during the Nazi regime. Lastly, in The Dairy of a Young Girl, Anne Frank writes a series of Dairy journal entries that describe her horrendous experiences with the Jewish persecution in the Netherlands. Additionally, he used posters to portray his hate against the Jim Crow laws.
This accumulation of events which are skewed by common cultural perspectives is counteracted by the creative choice of narrator. The Book Thief, a narrative detailing Liesel, a young girl's journey of life during World War II employs this frequently. This form of biased writing within the novel byMarkus Zusak has constructed his expression of character and events to be distanced from our general connotations of the events occurring and preconceived ideas of the people of NAZI Germany. Few scenes occur outside of the context of the Hubberman's or Himmel street and no time goes by where the scene is not overlooked by the narration of Death.
Have you ever thought that Death is a person and not a thing? Well in the book The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Death is the narrator and tells the story. In this book, there is a girl named Liesel. Liesel is going to live with her foster parents, while she was traveling with her mom and her brother, her brother died. He was buried and near his grave was a book. It’s name was “The Grave Digger’s Handbook”. This was the first book she stole, and she only continues from here. She lives on Himmel Street and which she meet kids and she has to show her worth. That is not the important part. In the end of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, it ends up really ironic. There are multiple ironic things in the book, it is practically filled with ironic and
Words, so simple, yet are the most powerful ways of communication. The weight of words is one of most impactful themes in Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, and is felt throughout the entire novel. The Book Thief is a story that takes place during World War II, and follows the Hubermann family and friendships as the Narrator: Death follows them through their journey of Germany in 1939. Hans Hubermann is one of the greatest supporters of words right next to the Book Thief herself, Liesel Meminger. Words are emphasized through stolen books, spoken conversations, and thoughts of the characters. Hans Hubermann backs Liesel’s desire to read through many long nights, protects Max Vandenburg while in hiding, and consistently stands up against the dehumanization
The novel The Book Thief is a book about a young girl by the name of Liesel Meminger. Observing the life of this young girl is not easy as this is the time of Hitler’s reign in Germany. In a short period of time, this girl faces many difficulties. More than any child should ever have to encounter. She has to deal with being abandoned by her mother, the death of her younger brother, and relocation to another part of Germany. Immediately when Liesel arrives to Molching, her life is forever changed. She is forced to live with two strangers, now her new mama and papa. Liesel faces much abuse both at school and at home. At school she is made fun of for her illiteracy and at home, mama speaks very rudely to her calling her a swine and other insults.
In The Book Thief, Death bluntly tells the reader, “You are going to die.” The macabe statement grabs the attention of the reader and points to a larger theme: fate rules peoples lives. The theme of fate is present in many popular works of literature. Through the use of literary devices, the authors of The Book Thief, Monkey’s Paw, and The Interlopers convey their common theme that fate is fixed and that humanity can not change the course of their lives.
The novel The Book Thief written by Markus Zusak, takes place during World War 2 in the town of Molching, Germany. The protagonist, Liesel Meminger, lives with a foster family, the Hubermann's, and has a deep love for literature. However, at the time, books are hard to come by so Liesel is forced to steal books from Nazi book burnings and the Mayor’s library. Liesel’s reading allows her to escape from the trying times of the war to the imaginary worlds of books. However, Liesel as Liesel matures, she discovers that books and words can not only be used for good, but for evil as well. The books that Liesel discovers throughout the novel directly contribute to Liesel’s growth as a human being and come to define her morals for life.
Markus Zusak utilizes Death as the omniscient narrator of the novel because Death is an unbiased character that all readers can relate to and to showcase that “even death has a heart” by personifying Death to make him appear less evil (Zusak 242). Zusak gives the reader a more approachable idea of Death, in this novel Death intentionally searches for the beauty that lay within humanity. Death symbolizes something that all humans are afraid of, yet are forced to face. In order for Liesel’s story to make sense to the reader, Death needs to be the omniscient narrator to inform the reader of the events that are happening throughout World War II, the time period that Liesel is telling her story. Since the story occurs when there is an increase
Foreshadowing in The Book Thief is one literary device used that some readers love and some readers hate. There are more than a few instances when the narrator, death, uses foreshadowing to keep the reader interested in the story and to further on certain thematic ideas in the novel. For example, death says that “Hans Hubermann was not granted membership in the Nazi Party. Not yet, anyway” (183). Here, it is being foreshadowed that Hans Hubermann will be forced to join the Nazi Party at some point in his life. By giving us this piece of information, the narrator is causing the readers to be curious and wanting to know more. This foreshadowing blends in with the thematic idea of war because by joining the Nazi Party, Hans will have to go fi...
The Holocaust is marked as one of the most horrifying events of the 20th century.The person who was responsible for the Holocaust was Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazi Party. The question is, how, and why was Hitler able to do this? The actual truth behind all this is that, Hitler could make the world his, just by using words. In The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, it tells a story about a young girl growing up when Nazi Germany was invincible. The author explores some very meaningful, yet, controversial themes for the most part of the novel. Out of all themes, he believes that words hold a remarkable power. He explores how words manipulate, divide, and connect people.
“Here is a small fact: You are going to die”(Zusak 3). The Book Thief, a historical fiction book by Markus Zusak, is narrated by Death. The novel takes place during the 1930’s and 40’s in Nazi Germany and follows 9 year old Liesel Meminger, who death refers to as “The Book Thief.” After her father, mother, and then brother are killed, Liesel becomes an orphan and is taken in by Hans and Rosa Hubermann in Molching. Throughout the book, she meets many people including the Mayor’s wife, Isla Hermann, and Max Vandenburg, a Jew who is hiding from the Nazi’s in the Hubermann’s basement. Although Liesel’s life is filled with death and loss, she ends up surviving an air raid on her street and after the war, she is reunited with Max who survived the Nazi death camp.
The author of The Book Thief, Markus Zusak, grew up in Australia with a German mother and an Australian father. Both of his parents experienced the effects during and after World War II and told him stories of the events during that time. Zusak’s mother grew up in Munich, Germany and told him of her experiences in Nazi Germany. Because his mother is a primary source of events that went on, he has insight on the social aspects of the war such as people’s reactions to the Nazis and the people’s thoughts of everything going on around them during World War II.