The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0375831002 Global Overview for this book
Registered by winghaahaahaa98wing of Watertown, Massachusetts USA on 7/29/2016
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by winghaahaahaa98wing from Watertown, Massachusetts USA on Friday, July 29, 2016
To be released at local bookcrossing Saturday meeting.

Journal Entry 2 by winghaahaahaa98wing at Panera Bread, 299 Harvard St. in Brookline, Massachusetts USA on Friday, July 29, 2016

Released 7 yrs ago (7/30/2016 UTC) at Panera Bread, 299 Harvard St. in Brookline, Massachusetts USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

To be released at local bookcrossing Saturday meeting.

Journal Entry 3 by edithdoll at Brookline, Massachusetts USA on Sunday, July 31, 2016
Caught at the Sat. July 2016 - meet up for Boston Bookcrossing.
To be read.

Journal Entry 4 by edithdoll at Winthrop, Massachusetts USA on Saturday, August 13, 2016
Full disclaimer, I'm not really a fan of reading young adult fiction--some folks find it relaxing, but I find it tedious. The Hunger Games series, I thought was good for what it was, and I thought it borrowed, heavily, etc. The first book was the best of the trilogy. The Book Thief is a stand alone so it's a bit different and spoilers now follow.

I can appreciate the author's intention here and again I realize the author -- he is writing to a much younger audience. WWII is a hard subject although it seems like it's more realized now as a subject for y/a books in our society, enough time has passed, etc. As a y/a I read only When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, which was pretty autobiographical, and fictionalized by its author. I gave it recently to a 10 year old with a bit of a heads up to her folks.

After reading The Book Thief -- I have mixed emotions if I would gift this to a y/a reader. The idea of death as a narrator is a little unsettling. The format is a little experimental it jumps around chronologically which I find interesting as a reader/writer but it might give some kids trouble with following the narration. Also because it is y/a I think the author walked a fine line as the author of the Pink Rabbit book. They mention really historic things but the most graphic substance not included. Here the author talks about prisoners being marched to Dachau--the idea of their mass deaths left to the narration of death complaining about being overworked by the war/destructions of humans of each other in general. The idea of balance of age appropriate and glossing over/sugar coating history is a bit disappointing.

I agree with the author on the book jacket the idea of a book thief is interesting, I'm just not sure about the execution of it here. He said he thought of setting it in modern day Sydney but opted instead of including family memories of WWII/wartime horrors, which again I think is valid but I felt it was really shaky in places, especially the ending. The book thief narrowly escapes an Allied bombing, is reunited with Max -- but then we are with her as an elderly lady in Sydney greeting death who has her journal. Pretty uneven for me, I'm not sure about 10-12 year olds connecting with this.

Holding for now.

Journal Entry 5 by edithdoll at Winthrop, Massachusetts USA on Monday, August 15, 2016
Released office cafeteria book shelf, lower level, One Ashburton Place, Boston MA 02108 -- 8/15/16.

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