Book Review: The Book Thief
I suspect The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak, has already gotten its share of rave reviews. But I figured I'd add mine to the pile.
This is a special piece of work. There have been a lot of books and movies about World War II and The Holocaust, but I would venture to say that this is the least-cliched version you will ever read or see. It is truly amazing how Zusak can take familiar scenes (the Jew in the basement, the mean Nazi, etc.) and flip them on their heads. What results is an always surprising (and by no means academic or preachy) tale that treats its themes with grace and style.
And its themes are large and important, and very ambitious. The book doesn't only cover the battle of humanity vs. evil, in the form of individual good among the systemic evil of Hitler's Nazi regime. It also covers the battle of words vs. actions, guilt in just about every form possible, and true love in both filial and platonic forms. (It is a book I would suggest as required reading for all adopted children.)
This is a book that plays cleverly, but not with trickery, on all of our assumptions. It defies stereotypes and pigeonholing. "Good" people can shock with an instant of violence, which can turn out to be an act of love. "Bad" people can surprise with one simple act, saving a fellow thief, or giving a soldier a break. The setting turns everything upside down, forcing our sympathies with the German characters as they huddle in a shelter, rather than the Allied forces doing the bombing, then flipping the script once again with the introduction of an ill-fated fallen pilot.
Of course, there are tear-jerking moments of incredible poignancy. But, just as in other moments, these are not what you would expect. While there are deaths and great tragedy, the most powerful emotions are actually brought out in the moments of humanity among the pain. This is no accident, either. With narration by The Grim Reaper himself (another twist, he is as sympathetic as any character in the novel), we learn that it is not a surprise that deaths and violence and outrage exist in the world, but that in small ways, humanity (and the right words) will always have the power to defeat those things.
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