Have you read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak?

[beautybunny]

A friend sent me this book and I've been avoiding reading it and picked up other books instead.

She insists everytime that I should read it, but we both like different kinds of reads. I started and couldn't get into it, and instead ended up picking one book after another to read, except this one.

Is it really as good as she says it is?

[MoreCowbell]

Yes, it really IS that good. My mother lent it to me a few years ago and at first I couldn't get into it either (the narrator at the beginning is Death, which was a bit odd) but OH MY GOD, when I did get into it...what an amazing story. Sad, but definitely worth it. This book seems to appeal to a lot of different people of different ages. I'm almost 30 and my best friend and I both loved it. My mother loves it, as does her twin sister, and they're both nearing 60. I just found out that it is one of my husband's high school student's favorite book and she is probably 16 or 17.
Keep trying, get past the part where Death is talking and the story focuses on what Liesl is doing and you'll be good to go. I really like the author's other books too, especially one called I Am the Messenger.

[Just Me]

Yes, it really IS that good...

Agree. Amazing book, I couldn't put it down.

[book_reader]

It is indeed a good book. Here is my review: http://mybookshelf.wordpress.com/2009/1 ... kus-zusak/

[Gannon]

It is a brilliant book. I have read it three times. However everybody has different tastes and likes. If you are finding it hard to get into it may not be your cup of tea.

[Fran]

Truly superb book ... absolutely loved it

[The Mythwriter]

I haven't read it yet, like you other things keep pooping up... but I really want to read it, it sounds incredible, and I surely will soon.

[EllieOop]

I LOVED this book! But the last few pages left me a sobbing mess I must admit...

[Ruth]

Oh yes, it's amazing. A fantastic read - definitely one of the best books I read last year, and I've kept it to reread at some point.

[Gary William Murning]

I must admit, I had conflicting feelings about this book. On the one hand, it is incredibly readable. I finished it in about a week during a fairly busy patch recently -- fast for me -- and didn't really find it a struggle at all. The principal characters are well drawn and engaging, the story is... actually, it's fairly basic, but generally well presented. Nonetheless, I had fairly significant issues.

Firstly: the narrator. I think it's fairly common knowledge who he is but I won't mention it in case it might be considered a spoiler. I found him intrusive and felt that he created more narrative problems than he solved. A straight third person narrative would have worked far better for me.

Secondly: it struck me as rather saccharine. Yes, I like to have my heartstrings tugged as much as anyone but this was just too sweet for my taste in places -- the language rather than the plot development.

Thirdly: this was a seriously dark time in world history, and whilst the book reflects that, for me, it just didn't truly evoke a sense of that the way some novels/autobiographies have. Yes, the author refused to back away from the reality but... I think the previous point mentioned undermined it. The sweetness took the edge off the horror of it all. I was moved but felt, given the subject matter, I should have been touched rather more strongly.

And finally: the narrator is just too damn flippant at times. I completely understand that this is probably what the author wanted, given the nature of the narrator, but to write about the siege of Stalingrad and then say that it was no ski trip... well, touches like this just made it seem silly and trivial, to me.

I would recommend it, however -- but only because I feel it raises questions about how novels should or shouldn't be written. A good novel for discussion.

[MichelleAntonia]

I absolutely LOVE this book. There's nothing about it that's second rate. The creativity of the delivery- the narrator, the drawn book in the middle, the different voices of the character, its emotional core... it's nothing short of brilliant. I was into it from the opening pages, but if you're not, give it another try! I doubt you'll regret doing so :p

[Gary William Murning]

Seems like I'm pretty much in a minority Anyone else out there who had issues with this book?

[Kathe]

I haven't read this one yet, but since it is on my bookshelf, I will read it next and give my input.

Perhaps I will have issues with it as you do, as I am not one that tends to go along with crowd. Not on purpose, of course. I just seem to have different tastes or ideas than everyone else.

[Just Me]

I haven't read this one yet, but since it is on my bookshelf, I will read it next and give my input.

Perhaps I will have issues with it as you do, as I am not one that tends to go along with crowd. Not on purpose, of course. I just seem to have different tastes or ideas than everyone else.

ha ha
seems like you already made up your mind. I can see why people might have some issues with this book, but all the things Gary William mentioned didn't bother me at all when I read this book.

[Fran]

And finally: the narrator is just too damn flippant at times. I completely understand that this is probably what the author wanted, given the nature of the narrator, but to write about the siege of Stalingrad and then say that it was no ski trip... well, touches like this just made it seem silly and trivial, to me.

In my opinion, it is because of the identity of the narrator that I would not attach the word "flippant" to that comment about the very awful events of Stalingrad. For me the identity of the narrator changes the whole context of the book and the events in the story. I would describe it as a heartrending story but also in a strange way a hopeful and uplifting book.