Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak

It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Narrated by Death, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a young foster girl living outside of Munich in Nazi Germany. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she discovers something she can't resist- books. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever they are to be found.
With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, Liesel learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids, as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. -Synopsis from Goodreads


My Thoughts

I adored this book. I don't know why it has taken me so long to pick it up. Narrated by Death, The Book Thief is told in a fresh, unique perspective and the writing is devastatingly beautiful and flowing. It mingles humor and lighthearted moments with ones of complete sorrow and pain and it does so effortlessly.

A word of caution, this book is not sunshine and roses in the end. If you're looking for a happily ever after, this is not going to be it. (Though what Holocaust/WWII themed book ever is?) However, it will cause you to fall in love with each and every character and then tug on your heart over and over again.  I probably should have waited a day or two to write this review because all I am capable of doing in this moment is gushing but what can I say? I'll probably be gushing for weeks. All I can say is, if you haven't picked it up yet, you should. End of story.