Our Score:★★★★★★★★✩✩
GENRE: Historical Fiction
Selected in May 2008
SYNOPSIS:
HERE IS A SMALL FACT - YOU ARE GOING TO DIE
1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier.
Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall.
SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION - THIS NOVEL IS NARRATED BY DEATH
It's a small story, about:
a girl
an accordionist
some fanatical Germans
a Jewish fist fighter
and quite a lot of thievery.
ANOTHER THING YOU SHOULD KNOW - DEATH WILL VISIT THE BOOK THIEF THREE TIMES
THE DISCUSSION:
As a group we were very impressed by this book and enthusiastic to share our opinions. Most of us absolutely loved it. The narrator, Death, put a strange twist and feel to the novel which disturbed some members. The subject matter too put some of our members off the enjoyment of the book, those that did love it thought it was a great spin to read about a German family apposed to Hitler's views and how dangerous it was to be in that position. We questioned whether the classification of this book being a YA novel affected our reaction to the book and story line. Most of us felt that it didn't. We loved the characters Liesel, Hans Hubbermann and Rudy.
QUESTIONS:
https://www.readinggroupguides.com/reviews/the-book-thief/guide
https://www.chipublib.org/the-book-thief-discussion-questions/
Check out the links above for some book club questions.
REVIEW:
Gemma's thoughts:
I love this book. Such a powerful story about a period in history that is widely known. However, this novel explores the perspective of a German family apposed to Hitler's political views and the consequences that they face. The innocence of childhood, love, death and humanity all shine through in this beautifully written book. I could not put it down and shed a few tears throughout the story, especially at the end. This is a book to treasure, to pass on to others and to be re-read over and over again. I highly recommend this book.
Emma's thoughts:
One of my all time favourite BookCosy books and now in my top 10 favourite books of all time! Was thrilled to see it turned into a film too! That's also when we know we've read a good one!
Highly, highly, highly recommended.
THE SCORES:
Emma: 8
Gemma: 9
Nic: 6
Maria: 8
Past Member's score: 8, 9, 9.
Average 8
Let us know what you thought about this book. We would love to read your reviews and find out what you would score it.
If you enjoyed this book why not try:
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
My Enemy's Cradle by Sara Young
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Pompeii by Robert Harris
The Sugar Girls by Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi
Happy reading!
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