I am actually only on page 37, but I find it quite hard to comprehend it. I must read and re-read some paragraphs. It's understandable at some points, but then at others, I don't know what he is trying to say at all... How about you?
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125,008 Literary Works • 672,814 Reviews
The Book Thief is a sad and depressing, but meaningful and beautiful book. It is one of my favourite books, and I assure you that it will change your way of thinking and even your life, just like how it has done with mine. I will always remember its message, and I definitely recommend you to finish this book.
I cried for three weeks straight when Rudy died. I couldn't even bring myself to continue reading it! 
Just give it a try, and I think you'll find it interesting, once you get past the first part!
Spoiler
Honestly, while I found the book to be a somewhat enjoyable read, I found it weighed down with certain baggage that did not allow the book to reach its potential. The character of Death was one of these slightly bugging aspects, and it took away some of the book's sincere credibility.
Still, it was quite an enjoyable read.
I haven't read the book, but I've been fortunate enough to attend a seminar by Markus Zusak. He said he rewrote the first chapter 80 times to get it right. Sounds like he may have overedited if the first part makes it hard to get into.
It's an excellent, excellent book. Too long, and with a despicable ending, and very monotonous at times... but totally worth it. Zusak's other [known] book, I Am The Messenger, is also superb and is probably one of my favorite books of all time. Which is weird because I hate those kind of books... but yet my muse is still named Audrey. But seriously, I highly recommend The Book Thief if you have any patience at all for long books, and a penchant for death.
Edit: I also figgers that this is a resurrected topic that will live, right?
Hullo. Well I'm in ninth grade and it pretty much is the level for me, I guess you might not understand it because you're too young, but if you wait to read it later you'll learn to love just like did.
I read it as a summer reading book. It was very interesting and is narrated by Death which I thought was unique. Very good read. I enjoyed it and glad that it was recommended to me.
I will never foregt that book, before my nanna died she was in and out of hospital a lot and when we went up to see her I Would always go and look at this little book stall thing they had and my dad bought me the book thief from it. Love the book, and always makes me think of ma nanna
Just want to say that I read "I Am The Messenger" and I highly recommend it. It was the second book that made tears roll down my face, the first being the Book Thief. Though the PoV isn't nearly as interesting, there is a wonderful twist at the end, and like the Book Thief, Zusak manages to change the way you look at things with it. I loved it just as much, if not more.
Yeah, I agree with Jennafina. This book made such a big impact on my life. I guess when ever we talked about the Holocaust and I looked at it just as that. But after reading this book, after Markus telling us through Death's Eyes....seriously, it was a big eye-opener for me about that whole deal.
no lie...
The ending made me cry
But please give it a chance. It is such a wonderful book. You'll never look at that event in history again as before.
Well, hope you enjoy it!
i read it a few years ago and loved it. all i remember (beside the basic plot and how much i really liked the main characters) was that it was enchanting
This book was life changing. It seriously changed the way I think. Yeah, at first it was hard to understand, but once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. It was a great story with a great message.
I absolutly loved this book. I picked it up and couldn't put it down. It completly hooked me from the first page. I think it was the different, if slightly unconventional, writing style which hooked me so much and so many things which he wrote really were beautiful. The book was very sad and quite poignant but it was done so well. The kinds of things I read and thought 'I really wish I could write like that'. Things like the bits in bold and the way it was narrated by death I found were really effective.
I think that anyone should at least try it. If you don't like it fair enough but don't just dismiss it because otherwise I really do think you'd be missing out.
It depends on how you feel about the writing style. I read it in no time at all, so I don't think you'll find it really slow. As with any book, there are slow parts but they don't last long.
Have a go, Jared. I reckon you might like it.
xxx
I have this book waiting on hold for me at the library, but I'm not quite sure if I want to read it. Will I zip right through it? Or is it really slow? Because I currently am reading Duma Key and Watership Down, the latter which I despise.
-Jared
I loved it.
The ending was very sad, but I still feel like reading it again.
The Book Thief is well thought out, creative and completely absorbing.
At first I thought that I might struggle with the style of writing, but I fell in love with the characters and story so quickly that the actual writing didn't bother me.
[spoiler]When Liesel finally kisses Rudy I sobbed my heart out. And, to me, a good book is one that provokes emotion, which this well and truly did. [/spoiler]
I must admit that certain parts became a little repetitive, however, the book still managed to keep me hooked right to the end.
I would recommend it - in fact I have and my friend is currently reading it and loving it.
Alainna
xxx
I think it would be better to describe it like this;
It's set in Germany, World War II, and follows the experiences of a young girl called Liesel who begins stealing books. There is stuff on both sides of the war in the way that she sees it.
It is very well written (In my opinion) and worth a read. I have to confess I cried at the end.
With the ****Insert Words*** thing; yes, that would be the authors style, he is entitled to do so
A girl i knew last year and ate lunch with, read the book. She loved it and told me to read it, but I never got around to it, and never will. But she highly recommends it for anyone who cares.
I've read the first 50 pages. The little sign things that are like this:
******DESCRIPTION OF GIRL***********
Really bug me. I don't understand them.
I guess it's just the author's style? It's rather odd.
-Jared
It's about a girl named Liesel who steals books in a time period in which books were burned, and how she grows up. The people she meets, her everyday life from the point of view of Death, all sorts of things.
I'm sorry I can't say more, because all that is spoilerrific. Give it a shot.
Everyone is saying that it is such a great book (beautiful being the most used adjective) but really, what is the book about (for all the ignoramuses like me out there)? And please, give me at least one good reason to struggle my way though it (since you say it's hard) besides that it's beautiful and well-written and the time frame jumps around. Please?
This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read, if not the most. It seriously changed the way I think. a little. If you're not far into it, give it a good long chance before you put it down. It gets better, and easier to understand once the characters aren't in transition.
I finished reading it about three months ago! You all were right! Wonderful book! Thanks for the opinions!
Don't worry, that's one of the things that depresses me when I read it as well. I doubt there are many people who can write that well. But the thing is, despite his writing being so utterly beautiful, books with far less beauty are read by far more people. This book is a bit of a one in a million.
I'm reading this book as we speak, but I'm only about twenty pages into it. So far it's making me depressed. HOW IN THE WORLD AM I EVER GOING TO WRITE THAT WELL???
It is as you say beautifully crafted, but as I've said it is hard. My mum tried it and never decided whether she liked it or not. A lot of people won't I think. But if you're into it, good for you! The style is unlike anything I've ever read, from the first "Here is a small fact: You are going to die". But I guess it's just such a unique book, the only thing I can think of that comes close in terms of narratorship is Mort, Reaper Man etc. in the Discworld, and that's kind of different.
I bought the book yesterday, and I am currently on about page 60.
Like somebody else mentioned, I was a bit apprehensive when I picked up the book at Borders. I wasn't certain if I would enjoy the novel or not.
But I love it dearly already.
(By the way, I've also had to re-read several paragraphs... I think this novel is beautifully crafted, but the style is different than what I'm used to. There are many breaks and the time frame jumps around in the beginning, for example.)
Thank you all! I've decided that I'll try reading it again. I gave up for a few weeks, but since you guys have tempted me with all good things about this book, I'll give it another try.
I stretched it out over five days during a half term. I wanted to make it last. It is hard-going, but it's definitely worth it.
I thought it was marvelously well-written. I was basically chained to the book (mentally) for all of seventeen hours. Though, yes, some parts I had to read a couple of times. Don't worry, it gets easier as you meet Liesel more. ^_^
You see? Someone agrees with me. Yay!
OMG, this is a such a beautiful (though depressing) book! The first pages are rather confusing, but you must persevere, because it's incre4dible. ^_^
Here is a message: READ THIS BOOK.
My mum was like you, I tried to persuade her to read it but she wasn't sure. In the beginning it's quite tough going. Wait until Max appears, if you're anything like me you'll be in love (whether with Max or with the book I don't know) and when you read his daydream about [spoiler]boxing the Fuhrer[/spoiler] you'll feel like you want to give up writing forever. And if you're in any way a girly-girl (even if you're a boy) you will actually have the tears streaming down your face when either [spoiler]she kisses Rudy[/spoiler] or [spoiler]she says goodbye to her parents[/spoiler] or the few lines where he describes [spoiler]Max's return[/spoiler].
Sorry I had to put spoilers in there. But seriously, thisbook is truly beautiful. It is tough going, I appreciate that, I had to get my best friend to take two stabs at it, but it's one of those books that will stay with you forever. It is truly stunning. And completely heartbreaking.
Well, thank you.
Hopefully I can just assume that it just gets simpler to comprehend. Again, thank you!
I myself haven't read it, but my little sister has and I've heard nothing bad about it. She didn't say it was hard to understand, but maybe she just didn't complain about that stuff and read through.