During
the Holocaust approximately eleven million people were killed, with
1.1 million of them being children. Anyone who helped the Jews were
sent to work camps or killed too. This was a terrible period of time
in the history of mankind. In addition to taking human lives, the
Nazis stole valuable literature from the world. They burned
thousands of books, a horrible atrocity in itself.
“At
times hilarious (believe it or not), at times heartbreaking, The
Book Thief is rich
and creative. It's a heartfelt reminder of the power of words –
they can destroy or heal, depending on how we use them.”
(Shmoop.com). According to review sites, this novel promises powerful
emotion, suspense, vibrant characters and a lesson in history. With
words being so powerful, it is little wonder why the Nazis destroyed
so many books.
Will
this book satisfy our need for a strong male character? The book is
narrated by Death which could be considered male. Liesel also
becomes very close with her foster father. Will either Death or the
foster father prove to be strong male characters? Or will Liesel be
too much of a dominating character?
I
hope you ladies enjoy this novel.
Thank-you Katie for this choice, it is the first time in a long time that a story has made me shed a tear.
ReplyDeleteI loved the imagery and powerful metaphors in this novel. I loved the colours. I enjoyed Death as the narrator and found his portrayal as a compassionate entity an interesting one. The content of the novel I found as always heartbreaking.
This novel [like The Tiger's Wife] I have creased numerous pages and scribbled in margins. So many things I'd like to mention.
The encompassment of all the suffering people in the story was important I feel. So many times I become so overwhelmed by the immense suffering of the Jewish people that I forget everyone was touched and everyone endured tragedy and misery.
I definitely feel at long last we have our strong male character in Hans Hubermann. So honourable and heroic, yet it seemed so futile in the face of not only the Nazi war machine ,but the Allies bombs that finally killed him.
My parents-in-law experienced WW2 in Latvia,suffering invasions by Russia, then Germany only to then be again attacked by Russia. Dark times and the fear of reprisals kept most people silent. My father-in-law had nightmares of being chased by soldiers all his life so the nightmares of Max and Leisel rang true for me.
Gracie visited Mauthausen on her study tour in 2011. It was cold and sleeting that day, fitting she thought, for a place in which an atmosphere of fear and sadness still pervades.
The scope of suffering in Europe during that time for me feels unimaginable and I struggle to understand mankind at times.
Our novel reminds us that Adolph Hitler was no soldier, he had only words and fear to ignite a nation.Fear must the the most insidious emotion of all.
So many memorable lines in this novel, hence the page creasing and margin marking in my book.
On pages 372-374 Death's Diary- The Parisians for example when Death talks about his first days in Auschwitz and Mauthausen.
"Summer came
For the book Thief, everything was going nicely
For me, the sky was the colour of Jews." I found the imagery and emotion Zusak creates compelling and I've even read those two pages aloud to Ivars to show him how moving this book is. He was suitable moved.
This is a novel I feel I could read again. I'm sure I missed vital parts. As I said before the content is so miserable and heartbreakingly sad, yet the words Zusak uses I feel are beautiful.
Though I can understand why you liked it so much, Nancy, and recognize the huge, international, humanitarian importance of the novel’s concerns, I’m afraid I was not so enthusiastic.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t like the characterization of Death and the use of that character as the narrator. It was a convenient device to illustrate the context in which the events in Himmel Street take place, and the scale of the suffering involved in WW2. But Death seemed too much like a teacher talking. The whole thing was too didactic.
And perhaps this is one of my main gripes with the novel. It was, it seems, first marketed for a “young adult” audience. Many novelists/books that fall into this category should be required reading for everyone (e.g. Malorie Blackman, Suzanne Collins, John Marsden, To Kill A Mocking Bird, Lord of the Flies . . . .) but I could almost hear the Teacher’s Guide as I was reading this. Death’s interventions in the narrative, for example his exhortations to Liesel to kiss Rudy (p.484), seemed foolish to me, given he knows what is going to happen next: but they provide very useful material for the teacher considering Death’s role in the book. One could almost write the exam question.
There again, it’s very likely that teaching experience means you never enjoy a book like this again – which is very sad.
Despite my tendency to read the end of a book first, I was really irritated by Death telling his audience what was going to happen. The death of the Allied pilot, for example, is dealt with twice, pp.10-12 and 519-522. I realize the second account develops the first, but I don’t see how that deepens the impact on the reader, who is unlikely to have retained the first image by the end of the novel. And constantly updating the reader on how long the occupants of Himmel Street have to live is irritating. I’m assuming this was intended to create tension.
However, it’s easy to criticize. The novel deals with a very wide range of characters and events, considering hugely important themes. It’s vital we are all reminded of the atrocities of WW2. There are those in my country who want us to leave the European Union. They should all be made to read books like this. It demonstrates just why the Union is so vital and why we must defend it. My father fought in WW2, and he talks of it increasingly frequently as he gets older. Tragically, in my father’s case and, I fear, many others, the war has served only to deepen divides.
I fear my criticism of the book probably reflects a hide-bound, traditionalist approach to literary criticism. I apologise.
It was a really interesting read, Katie: thank you.
Hello Ladies! Hope you’re both well. I’m afraid I have been finished the Book Thief for a while but just haven’t been able to decide my thoughts on it.
ReplyDeleteSue, I too was annoyed that Death kept telling us what was going to happen. When he told the reader that Hans and Rosa were going to die, I had to put the book down. I was so disheartened that these two characters who took such care of someone else’s child were going to die from Allied bombs. I put the book down for a few days because I just didn’t want it to happen. Silly how I childishly and subconsciously thought that I could change what happened by not reading!
I loved the characters. I feel like we had some strong male characters in this novel. Hans was an endearing character, Rudy had so much boyish charm, and Max was a fighter, both physically and in his pursuit of freedom. In addition to the men folk, there was Leisel and Rosa. They were two very strong people; Rosa in her care for her family and Leisel in her determination to read.
What did you both think of Max’s book, The Word Shaker? Did you find his grasp on the power of words to be very astute? I feel like there was an underlying message about the power of words. While everyone was sitting in the air raid shelter, nervous and fearful, the words of a book calmed the whole group down. Hitler never actually killed anyone, but his words were enough to make people murder many innocent individuals. In addition to the power of words, the power of mob mentality during WWII is terrifying. The idea that whole entire masses can be lead to believe that horrible actions are acceptable is frightening.
I had so many unanswered questions at the end of this novel. What became of Max? Yes we know he survived the camps, but then what became of him? What happened to Leisel between when she last saw Max and when we see her at the end of her life? I felt like I was left hanging. I guess that’s why I’ve had such a hard time deciding my opinion on this novel. There were things I really enjoyed, and things I didn’t. (Such a perceptive opinion I know. Haha)
Well I’m really truly glad you liked it Nancy. And I hope that because it was a fairly quick read, it wasn’t too bad Sue. I look forward to Case Histories, although I haven’t yet gotten my copy.
It was a good read, Katie: I absolutely agree with you about the power of words and the value of that consideration in the novel.
ReplyDeleteReally valid in the 21st century, too. Obama is a wonderful example of someone who can inspire crowds - Martin Luther King, also. (Is that the gospel background?) Kennedy, Clinton and Reagan, too, excellent communicators. (Irish backgrounds?) When such a gift is used to good effect, it's tremendous. Sadly, not since Churchill have British politicians shown an ability to lift a gathering. There again, looking at what evil can be wrought by an powerful speaker, maybe that's not such a bad thing.
In comparison to The Book Thief, Case Histories has a very limited scope. And I haven't got my copy either. I shall speak to the ladies in the library again tomorrow.
Hello Ladies,
ReplyDeleteWell it's New Year's Eve here and Ivars and I have a date with Dom tonight !!!!! Hear's cheers to you both !!1
Katie, I have just re read The Standover Man and I'm confused. When I initially read it I thought it was a story of hope for understanding by Max, but now I'm not so sure. I keep finding so many contradictions within it. What is your take on it so I may understand a little better.
Sue, I know what you mean about the story feeling a little like a teaching tool, I also noticed this, in fact it was part of Gracie's English curriculum in Year 10. I did wonder a times if there was an adult version and child version [as for Mao's Last Dancer] at times.
Death's spoilers at the start of the chapter's didn't worry me too much, and I took a leaf out of your book Sue, when I knew what was going to happen I could concentrate on the words. Didn't convince me to start reading the end of books though !!! haha.
As our last few books have been a little heavy, I have supplemented my reading with "A Year In The World" by Frances Mayes, [a travelogue of her jaunts around the Mediterranean], so when things got a deep in our novels I escaped that way !!!
Happy New Year to you both - you might well be enjoying the champagne as I write, Nancy. Today, 31st December, is Mum and Dad's 64th wedding anniversary, so we'll have a celebratory lunch. Then it's out for dinner with friends in a rather up-market hotel - what to wear? Whatever, until the new year diet, it will be tight - the Christmas cake was a success.
DeleteThanks for the reading recommendation, Nancy. I have just finished Ian Rankin's "Standing in Another Man's Grave" - absorbing crime fiction set in Scotland which doesn't exactly cheer you up, but does transport you into another world.
Enjoy your New Year celebrations, ladies, and I look forward more book-based discussions in 2013.
Hey Nancy.
ReplyDeleteI re-read the Standover Man. I think it is a story of realization. Max realizes that not everyone who stands over you is a threat. Life can knock you down. But sometimes there are people who will help you up. Or even if they are not there to help you, their very presence can be a motivator. To me, Max is sharing this discovery with Leisel. That's just my opinion on the story. Hope it helps