By Markus Zusak
Knopf, Borzoi Books © 2005
http://www.booksattransworld.co.uk/thebookthief/
I recently finished reading the book, The Book Thief and felt a resonating brilliance about this uniquely written story. Right from the beginning, although grim and filled with sadness, I was attracted throughout with the notion of enduring friendships and relationships that triumph even amid life's cruelties and chaos. The sensitivity and gentleness that represents compassion and selflessness in the story is perhaps what I connected most with. It's a beautiful thing to imagine and a wonderful journey to engage in as author Markus Zusak does an amazing job painting incredibly personable and vivid images of grace, love and compassion.
Another prominent aspect of the book is the great love that Liesel, the story's protagonist has for reading which then spawns this great sensational love affair with words and books. Furthermore, judging from the enduring difficult times of war, suffering, and depression, there is a recognizable power of words that permeates throughout the pages and deeply touches those recipients who were fortunate enough to somehow interact with some aspect of the written word. The resilience of a girl at such a young age and to see that blossoming trait positively impact and affect so many others was really encouraging.
The intricacies of paradoxes...
"I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I want to ask her [Liesel] how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant." ~Death, The Book Thief
We read for many different reasons: as a form of escape from our daily lives, to gain knowledge and heighten our awareness and knowledge of the issues of our day, or to pass time and have fun and simply for pure enjoyment. For all these reasons and more, I discovered a genuine enjoyment with the book and highly recommend it to anyone to read.
