I'm feeling very overwhelmed by it and too wound up to go to bed. The Book Thief is a profound story of a Liesel Meminger, a little girl who lives through Nazi Germany. We've all read books about this period in our world's history, but I have never read something from this perspective. Most of the characters in this book are not Jewish. They are not haters of the Jews. They are not supporters of Hitler and his "reign of terror". They are regular people dealing with the atrocity of the time. I am having a difficult time wrapping my brain around what it must have been like for these "regular" people. They were torn. Torn between their disgust for the evil taking place in their country and the paralyzing fear they had about opposing it. It is heart wrenching and so very clever.
Liesel, the main character, is remarkable. She's the book thief. Even though she is just a child in the story, she is strong, brave, smart, sensitive, and funny. She's a hero. An unsung hero. We never hear or read about people like her. She's not media worthy. But people like her have to exist. They just have to. I would've liked to have known her.
I have never read a book like this before.
Go to the library or bookstore and pick it up right now! Be sure to stop and pick up a box of Kleenexes on the way home as well. You will need them, but in a good way.
Sounds cool...but with the end of school looming and all the crap I have to do I am lucky to get to the computer and read a few blogs...Happy Tursday...the end is near :) (of school of course!)
ReplyDeleteIt's on my list. I normally just read non-fiction, but this looks worthy. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful book. You describe it well. So sorry I haven't been by much. It seems everyone is so busy these days! Hope you're well.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds very good. One never thinks about the "normal" people living in Germany at the time... I believe they are the forgotten victims of the 3rd Reich. Forced to watch silently while their government committed horrific atrocities.
ReplyDeleteI read "Night" by Elie Wiesel and it almost did me in. And of course, Ann Frank's store and Corrie ten Boom's story. However, I'll take a look at this next time I'm at the bookstore.
Lend it to me for a good summer read, please!
ReplyDeleteEverybody, listen to Kim. She's right about this book!
ReplyDeleteI loved that book. Have you read Skeltons at the Feast by Chris Bohjolain? Another amazing book with insight into the actions of Germans.
ReplyDeleteOK great. I need to cry some more. I am right in the middle of Best Friends and I was crying like a baby today in the court waiting room. It was a little awkward, but whatever :). I will definitely get this over the weekend!
ReplyDeleteI read this recently and was also profoundly moved by it. It takes Anne Frank and adds various dimensions to it. I definitely recommend this book to all!
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