The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Mo's review)
Friday, December 21, 2007 by Mo
Early this month I read Markus Zusak’s “The Book Thief” as part of a bookring I had signed up for, and it also counts as my 5th selection for the Book Awards Challenge in which I’m participating, as it won the 2006 National Jewish Book Award.Actually, I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed this book. While I read an eclectic range of genres/styles, I admit I typically shy away from most books that are [1] marketed as YA novels, and especially from those that are [2] particularly saddening or disgraceful in content (i.e. Novels about slavery, child abuse, the holocaust, etc.). So, when I began this tale, narrated by Death and set in World War II Germany, I was a bit apprehensive that I would enjoy it at all, but I was engaged by Zusak’s writing style, and captivated by the story. I won’t write a synopsis here, as there are several well-written descriptions available elsewhere, suffice it to say that this not-so-young adult enjoyed the book, as well. Perhaps not my favorite read of the year, but the story will most certainly stay with me.
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Mo,
National Jewish Book Award
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Mo, I was one of those people who loved this book - and I think you hit the nail on the head when you noted Zusak's style. He is extremely talented. I felt the book was not really YA - but it got marketed that way because Zusak has been a YA writer. After the book appeared in the US, it ended up getting marketed both in the adult and YA sections of many bookstores; and overseas they actually published it with two covers - one for adults, and one for YA. I hope Zusak writes some adult fiction in the future. He is still pretty young (I think 30 or 31 years old) so he has a life time ahead of him - lucky for his readers!! Glad you enjoyed the book :)
this book is on my to-read list, and i'm looking forward to it. thanks for the review!