The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
Books - journal entry #3
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
Author: Markus Zusak
Page Count: 584 pages, 118.9K words
Awards:
Book Sense Book of the Year (2007) - Children’s Literature
School Library Journal (2006) - Best Book of the Year
Sydney Taylor Book Award (2007)
It was also a New York Times bestseller.
Original Publisher: Picador, Alfred A. Knopf
Original Date of Publication: 2005
(bad) Synopsis:
Hitler VS. a bookish girl and a scrawny Jewish man.
Death has placed his bets on the latter two. As he should.
Notes/Opinion:
This is one of those books that sticks with you all your life. I read it a while ago (I should pick it up again), and I can still confidently say that I love it.
Right off the bat, the concept is very creative and intriguing. Sadly, a book narrated by Death makes sense for this period. He is portrayed as an odd figure, ominous and all-seeing, yet rather gentle. A great observer, fond of colors and listing items. I mean, there is always so much focus on Legacy and being remembered after we die, but how does Death itself see you? What crosses his mind when he comes to take you away? The question is fascinating.
In some ways, I understand it better now, too. Books, knowledge, education… they give you power. How do you control people? You take away their books. You think for them, you poison them by feeding them misinformation, and keep them from seeking healthier nourishment. Heck, we are seeing it happen in the U.S right now, we have talked about this!
At the ripe age of nine years old, Liesel Meminger became familiar with just how dangerous it can be to learn. In a fascist context, some knowledge can literally cost you your life, because knowledgeable people can overthrow the system.
See, the phrase “Joy is an act of resistance” has been criticized for encouraging complacency, and for its use by some to exempt themselves from actual resistance. I think there is some value to be found here, though.
Reading a book can seem harmless, but it isn’t to a regime that doesn’t want you to read it. Singing a song can seem harmless, but it isn’t to a regime that doesn’t want you to sing it. Anything that makes the oppressors uncomfortable chips away at their power, even if they tell you otherwise. After all, why feel threatened by something that isn’t a threat? Perhaps that was the slogan’s original meaning, before it got corrupted.
Finally, the novel proposes that no one benefits from fascism except for those at the very top. No matter how hard you try to bootlick and 'play nice', so it's better not to. Liesel was a blond, white German, and still the nazis fucked her over just like everyone else.
Anyway, The Book Thief is a lovely read, and quite possibly one of my favorite books ever. Especially now, it is more relevant I would like it to be. Really, it’s fucking depressing and terrifying, just how timely it is! Honestly, the moment this one gets banned, it’s over for us all!
Fun fact #1 - The Book Thief is also dear to me because I got it in arguably my favorite bookstore, when the place had just opened. In other words, the whole experience of getting my copy was pretty exciting.
Fun fact #2 - I eventually donated this copy to my school’s library; a beloved place where I spent most of my late childhood and early teens.
Sources: Google, Wikipedia.