I shan't ever smile again! D: I just finished The Book Thief by Markus Zusak about twenty minutes ago, and oh my word. It made me so very depressed.

Naturally, I ran straight to Menewsha to find some discussion on it... And I was shocked to find no threads for Markus Zusak or the Book Thief in the catalouge! What's this? I thought it was a fairly popular novel/author?

But anyway. This thread is for discussing Markus Zusak and any books of his you may have read. I've only read The Book Thief, and I definitely want to read some more!

The Book Thief was astounding. It's the kind of thing they ought to teach in school. It's set in WWII, and so many books are set in WWII, which is great, because it is a fascinating and moving subject, as well as one that needs to be carried and remembered by future generations. Yet... books about it can get bland after you've read so many. This novel, however, is narrated by Death. He tells the story of a German girl, Liesel, and the stories of people around her... but mostly her's. It's a very interesting style of narration, because Death does care about Liesel, and about the Holocaust, and the bombings, and the soldiers dying, but at the same time, he's so very... dettached. I was in love with that by five pages into the book.

The whole novel was just really well done. It gave things away, without giving everything away, and took me through a whirlwind of emotions in the span of 550 pages. I don't want to give too much away, but I want to just say that the last line was absolutely haunting. I think it may be my favorite last line ever.

My favorite book ever. I was so sad in the end but then the very end made me so happy. His characters are awesome and a lot of it has to do with the narrator.

Markus Zusak is amazing. Another one of his books is 'I Am the Messenger' and, true to form, it is amazing.

I thought it was a bittersweet kind of ending. While the very end was happy, the stuff right ebfore the very end just kind of... weighed down heavy on me. The characters were awesome, I was attached even to the less likeable ones, like Rosa Hubermann (who I loved despite her rough exterior) and the ones who didn't show up much, like the mayour's wife... But I can't remember her name. :/

The girl who sits next to me in American History told me that I Am the Messanger was very good as well- I can't wait to read it!

I've been meaning to read The Book Thief, I've read all the books he wrote prior to it but The Book Thief seems to have been the most highly praised by far.

I can understand what you mean by that heavy weight. My chest was killing me after I read that part. I never really understood what it ment to feel your heart drop until that book.

Considering I haven't read this book yet (a fact I am practically kicking myself for), I'm being very very careful reading your posts. But I am absolutely IN LOVE with I Am the Messenger. It's kinda depressing, but heartwarming and uplifting at the same time. Right near the end it gets really odd, but it finished with me feeling very happy with it. :) Have any of you read that book?

This book is amazing. Very depressing, even though there was tons of foreshadowing. i think I actually cried.
I also love the Point of View. Top ten.

The messenger was really good too. I love the mysterious sender thing. Always have. I hope he writes more!

Haha wow. I just bought this book as a present for my english teacher because I thought it looked interesting. I'm probably going to borrow it from the library and read it.

Ling- I think you're right. I've heard more about The Book Thief than any other book by him, but then, my ears have been ready to tune into people talking about The Book Thief, so I could well be biased.

Octopus- Oh, I know. It was like my insides were being crushed... It was so moving.

Cere- I have not read I Am The Messanger yet, but I so want to, especially since you mention it's both depressing and uplifting! The Book Thief was like that.

Fairywaif- Even with all the foreshadowing, I still found myself hoping against hope things would not happen, and crying when they did. It takes a gooood writer to do that. <3

Jenn- My English teacher didn't like it! D: Me and this other girl in my class are in love with it, so we just think she's crazy. I hope yours likes it. :3 And do get it from the library! It's a wonderful novel.

I red it and could put it down. Also if your looking for another book by him i believe he wrote My Swordhand is singing. That was a great book to

I just gave The Book Thief to one of my younger cousins for Christmas - trying to spread the love, as it were. I remember reaching the end of the book and feeling like I'd been hit by a train. It's such an intense book. It's decent length, but there is no page wasted. I'm pretty sure I cried at least once. I also learned a good few German swearwords that my German teacher in high school forgot to mention . . . :)
I am the Messenger is also an awesome book, but entirely different. I got into The Book Thief through it, and was pleasantly surprised to find a very different kind of story - although they do both have that warm-cold-bright piercing quality to them that makes you want to run around the house dancing and crying. It's a bit more surreal in some ways, compared to The Book Thief, but set in current history. I hope he writes some other stuff soon, because I find it kind of disappointing that these are the only things he has written as far as I can tell :(

Apart from The Book Thief and The Messenger Markus Zusak also wrote a three book story which the first was The Underdog, followed by Fighting Ruben Wolfe and When Dogs Cry (Which apparently in the US is called Getting the Girl). I read all three of them and that's how I got into reading his books.

I admit, the cover for The Underdog in my opinion was just cool, I still remember it now, years after I read that book. It was bright red with an embossed black outline of a picture of a dog. I liked it. Fighting Ruben Wolfe had a similar cover except it was bright blue and while When Dogs Cry had a boring cover I knew the content would be good because I had read the previous books.

Anyway, I've finally started, and am nearly finished reading The Book Thief. It's a great story and I love the fact that the story is written in Death's POV. It is probably the most interesting character in the whole story. :D

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

It's amazing. :)

Anyone? o.O

i think i read it but i cant remember 'cause most of what i currently read is about thieves what is it about?

I read this book about six months ago and completely fell in love with it. At first I found the writing weird, but after I got used to it I think that it enhanced every aspect of the story. The narration by death was fascinating, especially during WWII when death is always surrounding. I found the characters so real too. For example, the friendship between Rudy and Leisel completely reminds me of me and my best guy friend (except I don't return any romantic feelings). Plus I have a huge crush on Max (:

So what did you guys think of this book? What did you feel about the choice of a narration by Death himself? Did you love it as much as I did? Did you manage to adjust to the style of writing?

oh i loved that book i read it last year i cried at the end it was awesome

You were the one who recommended this book to me. I was hesitant at first, because the writing style was a bit weird, but once I got into it, I couldn't stop reading. I felt the choice in narration was brilliant and gave the most unique viewpoint we could have on World War II.

I totally cried at the end, and I am not ashamed.

I got teary-eyed, which is the most that I ever get in most books/movies/television.

I still re-read my favorite parts when I can't sleep (:

I've got to revive this thread because I've just recently finished this book and I loved it.

The best relationship in the book, for me, was between Liesel and Papa.

And I admit that the narration was hard for me to adjust to at first, but once you've gotten used to it, it really does grip you. One of my favourite books and one I know for sure I'm going to re-read in future.

Definitely cried in many places, too, but that's what I love about a book; when it can evoke that kind of reaction from you. :)

The Book Theif was amazing. A story narrated by Death. Now that's genious, right there. I was hooked after the first few pages, and I kept staying up all night reading chapter after chapter after chapter... :D

I am the Messenger...by far, one of my top five favorite books. The plot, the characters, the story twists...so amazing.

Markus Zusak is my hero. :1

I admit, I have only read it half way...O.o I keep meaning to, but I just don't find the time... I think I got to page 246...Or something like that. Anyway, it's an amazing book so far, and I really wanna read the whole thing.

I haven't read the Book Theif yet but I read I am the messenger before. I love that book and you should read it if you like that author. :)