the book thief by markus zusak

this was a good book. i feel like maybe i didn't get quite as much out of it as i could have because i spread the reading of it out over several months. i began it before a semester started and didn't finish until almost the end of the semester. i think the emotional impact would have been much stronger if i had read it without being absent from the story for weeks at a time.

what i liked:

i liked that it was a story about a german family in nazi germany who didn't agree with what was going on. i think that voice hasn't gotten enough light as far as the wwii story goes.

i loved hans hubermann. so kind and gentle. his attention and instruction to liesel are the making of her. his selflessness and quiet strength are so reassuring.

i learned to really love rosa hubermann too. once you get through her harsh exterior there is this tremendous and fierce love at her center. someone you want on your side. she would go down swinging for you.

i loved the focus on the importance of words. their power and value. the longer i have max's story for liesel in my head the more and more genius it becomes.

ilsa hermann leaving the library window open.

the narration by death. the abstractness was a little distracting at first, but once i got it, it was brilliant. the idea that death was exhausted by the war and is haunted by humans . . . chilling.

i expect i will re-read this book again in the future. i would be interested in reading it with a group and hearing other people's reactions. hear what they pull out of the story.