The Book Thief
Author : Markus Zusak
Published Date : 2006
Language : English
Along 2013, The Book Thief is one of book with the finest diction I ever read. The Author, somehow success to deliver the beautiful of sentence by playing with personification without too much confusing the reader. Not kind of classic language but may be, a decade later, this book could be categorized as one of classic books parallel with To Kill a Mockingbird or Diary of Young Girl : Anne Frank.
What this book is all about? Why I praise it from the beginning of my review? Well, because I fall in love this book. everything seems from different point of view.
This is a story about Germany when World War II happened. Yup, you may suspect it is about Holocaust. Nope this is story about German girl name Liesel Meminger who born in 1929. She was 11 years old when she saw her brother death in her very eyes. That time, she was on her journey and her brother died in the train. After her brother buried, her Mother abandoned her and she taken to her foster family. Broken hearted, and mourning, she pick a book which left on the road after fall from the pocket of grave-digger. The book is about the grave digger manual. That time, she was still illiterate.
After being taken to her new family, she met Hans and Rosa Hubermann, her Papa and Mama. Her Papa is a painter, he also plays piano accordion to support his family economy. Her Mama, Rosa is a foul mouthed, aggravating, and rough women who like to shouting "Saukerl" and "Saumensch"- German swearing words.
For the very first time, Liesel met her Papa, she eventually love that Man. Papa is gentle, kind and genuine people. He also a lucky and honest Man. When all the German people enthusiastically to enlist them self as Nazi, Papa refuse it. Long time ago, at WWI, Papa once has been saved by Jewish Man and indebted to that Man.
Every night, Liesel had a night mare about her brother death, her mother abandoned her and each night her Papa accompanied her until she fall asleep again. Sometimes, they went to the basement and try to read the handbook of gravedigger. Slowly, her Papa teach him to read by drawing the character into the wall.
Liesel also has a best friend namely Rudy Steiner- the boy next door. Both of them dedicated their life as a thief, thief of fruits, and any food. The economic conditions of their parents-every one on Himmel street-place they live in-is middle low class. Mama should work by washing and ironing clothes of richer people, including the Mayor family whom live in Molching-Ilsa Hermann.
The addiction of reading, or her intuitive of stealing led Liesel to do another thievery. One day there is book burning in the city, and right before the book is burnt, Liesel stole some books and hide it inside her clothes.
This action is seen by Ilsa Hermann-the Mayor wife.
Afraid, Liesel met Ilsa to confront her, despite angry or blame her, Ilsa show her private library and ask Liesel to read with her in the Library. Ilsa is very quite woman who barely talk or go out. She is very broken heart because of her lost of her only son. She close and punish her self because of that.
Problem happen when Hermann family is visited by uninvited guest, Max Vandenburg. A Jewish on flee and beg for Papa courtesy to hide him under the Hermann basement. Max is son of a Jewish man whom save Papa's life once. Indebted, and because of his kind heart. He welcomed Max.
Unexpected, the foulmouthed Mama is not against him. Mama, silently (which so unusual) serve a hot meal for starving man, and give him roof to stay. That time, Liesel wondering what kind of Mama she had.
That time, hiding a jewish on your house is same with seeking of death penalty. Carefully they hide Max in their basement. Initially, Liesel is keep the distance with Max, but eventually, after seeing Max reading a book, and they talk each other, Liesel care for him. In fact those three care so much to Max.
Later on the story is flowing how Liesel day by day start to thief books from Mayor's library, and her addiction to the books. Outside, the country is in war. Several times, their street is threatened to be bombed. Hiding into the basement together with ther neighbour, Liesel start her role as book reader to keep the calmness and civilness in the basement, and Max is exposed to the danger because he can't hide together in the basement.
The stories about the relationship of Liesel with Max, Rudy and Papa, even her Mama is the most heartbreaking one. Not only that, Liesel seems has an ability to mingle with lonely and desperate woman like Mayor's wife Ilsa, and her hatefull neighbour Mrs. Hoftaspelz.
The Most interesting is, the book is narrated from the point of view of the Death. Why is the Death? bacause the Author believe that there is a very close relationship between War and Death. See how the Author have a sense of black humor, rite?
What is the strong point of this book is of course from the characters (aside the diction). The Author seems want the reader remember the character of Liesel and Rudy as they are real and alive. For me, as personal the character of Liesel is almost the same with the character of Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird. Even the background is almost the same. Both are young girl with bravery, rebel heart, and also a very content and sincere heart. Character of Rudy, remind me of the character of Scout brother-tough not too same. The Papa? yes, it is the same! The father figure is someone who has both heart and idealism as an example figure to the children. No child not proud to a father like that. The different is character of Mama- a hatefull woman with the largest heart ever.
I don't know, may be it is because the genre is almost the same so i like both the books. But from the plot, way of narrating, both are so much differ. I guess my preference no based on genre right?
Well, so far I like this book. Unique and inspiring. Definitely a reference to young reader!
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