The Book Thief
15 journalers for this copy...
Blurb from the back cover:
"Here is a small fact: You are going to die.
1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier.
Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall.
Some important information: This novel is narrated by Death.
Another thing you should know: Death will visit the book thief three times..."
I was attracted by this book because of the title. I looked at it every time I went to the bookshop for about 6 months, until I finally gave in and bought it. What I discovered was something completely different from what I expected.
This is a story on WWII as we never see/read it. The action is set in Germany, and it does touch the subject of how the Nazi government affected and hurt the common people in its own country. But this book is not really about the war, it's about this little girl, her books, her friends and family, life, love, and hope. And her sad story is told by the most uncommon narrator: Death.
I give it 9/10, because the choice of narrator gives the whole book a very interesting dimensions. And because it's a great story and it managed to make me cry (and that's quite an achievement!)
"Here is a small fact: You are going to die.
1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier.
Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall.
Some important information: This novel is narrated by Death.
Another thing you should know: Death will visit the book thief three times..."
I was attracted by this book because of the title. I looked at it every time I went to the bookshop for about 6 months, until I finally gave in and bought it. What I discovered was something completely different from what I expected.
This is a story on WWII as we never see/read it. The action is set in Germany, and it does touch the subject of how the Nazi government affected and hurt the common people in its own country. But this book is not really about the war, it's about this little girl, her books, her friends and family, life, love, and hope. And her sad story is told by the most uncommon narrator: Death.
I give it 9/10, because the choice of narrator gives the whole book a very interesting dimensions. And because it's a great story and it managed to make me cry (and that's quite an achievement!)
Going on an International bookring.
The rules:
_ When you receive the book, please write a journal entry.
_ When you finish the book, please let us know what you thought about it
_ PM the next person in the list (sometimes it's better to do that before finishing the book as some persons are quite difficult to reach and PMs don't always work)
_ Any questions/problems, please PM me.
Enjoy!
Participants' list (order subject to change)
_ Cross-patch (UK) - ship UK
_ thursoexile (UK) - ship EU
_ chich (France) - ship int'l
_ ana-b (Netherlands) - ship EU
_ bestfriends (Belgium) - ship EU
_ iliotropio (Belgium) - ship int'l
_ bookmaniac70 (Bulgaria) - ship EU
_ Pell (Italy) - ship int'l
_ arugh48187 (India) - ship int'l
_ kobie03 (Canada) - ship int'l
_ lauraloo29 (Canada) - ship int'l
_ BethanieKay (US) - ship int'l
_ GrammarBroad (US) - ship int'l <=== Book is here
P.S.: I reserve myself the right not to add someone to the list if they are known stallers. I usually do a quick forum search and have a look on everyone bookshelves. I am not very mean though, I will only ban people who have stalled lots of rings for a very long time.
The rules:
_ When you receive the book, please write a journal entry.
_ When you finish the book, please let us know what you thought about it
_ PM the next person in the list (sometimes it's better to do that before finishing the book as some persons are quite difficult to reach and PMs don't always work)
_ Any questions/problems, please PM me.
Enjoy!
Participants' list (order subject to change)
_ Cross-patch (UK) - ship UK
_ thursoexile (UK) - ship EU
_ chich (France) - ship int'l
_ ana-b (Netherlands) - ship EU
_ bestfriends (Belgium) - ship EU
_ iliotropio (Belgium) - ship int'l
_ bookmaniac70 (Bulgaria) - ship EU
_ Pell (Italy) - ship int'l
_ arugh48187 (India) - ship int'l
_ kobie03 (Canada) - ship int'l
_ lauraloo29 (Canada) - ship int'l
_ BethanieKay (US) - ship int'l
_ GrammarBroad (US) - ship int'l <=== Book is here
P.S.: I reserve myself the right not to add someone to the list if they are known stallers. I usually do a quick forum search and have a look on everyone bookshelves. I am not very mean though, I will only ban people who have stalled lots of rings for a very long time.
On its way to Cross-patch! I have posted the book yesterday, fingers crossed that the Royal Mail strikes stop for long enough to reach its destination.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Journal Entry 4 by 
Cross-patch
from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Thursday, October 18, 2007
Cross-patch from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Thursday, October 18, 2007
The book thief arrived a couple of days ago. I'm afraid it's been a difficult week and I'm only just catching up. I have wanted to read this book ever since I heard about it, so am desperate to start. Thank you nawoo82.
Journal Entry 5 by Cross-patch from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Cross-patch from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Tuesday, November 13, 2007
My first 10! I too cried in the closing pages - it was an eyes wide open crying because there was no suspense as all was revealed in advance - it was the beautiful use of language and exploration of ideas that heightened the emotions. No more to be said. It is all in the pages. Massive thank you.
Posting today.
Posting today.
Just arrived thank you, cross hatch. Off on holiday tomorrow so shall have it read in a few days....
Wow what a fabulous story, just finished it after a few days in Prague, wonderful book and a tremendous insite in to Germany during the war, could really feel the young girl and "Death" in the pages. Lost my dog today and it feels a little sureal at the moment, the end of the book sort of helped!!!.
Will be on its way to France as soon as I get the addy....
Will be on its way to France as soon as I get the addy....
Journal Entry 8 by chich from Ibiza - Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Sunday, December 2, 2007
Book received today, thanks for passing it on thursoexile! And thanks for hosting this ring nawoo82:-]I just finished reading another ring last night so I can get right on to this one:)
Journal Entry 9 by chich from Ibiza - Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Sunday, December 9, 2007
Some reviews are best kept short: this book is simply wonderful. I loved the story, I loved the characters, I loved the writing style. Simply wonderful (did I already say that?). Magical and haunting.
Thanks so much nawoo82 for sharing this book with us!
I have already PMed ana-b for her address and will send her the book as soon as she gives to me
Thanks so much nawoo82 for sharing this book with us!
I have already PMed ana-b for her address and will send her the book as soon as she gives to me
Journal Entry 10 by chich from Ibiza - Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The book arrived today. Thanks.
It takes another week to finish this. Hope you don't mind.
Released 16 yrs ago (2/6/2008 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
The book is on its way to Belgium.
The book is on its way to Belgium.
I finally finished the bok. It took too long, I'm very sorry about that. I liked the story, especially WW2 seen from a German point of view. Only from page 400 or so I became really interested in the story. I did not really like the perspective from which the story is told. The author did not seem to know whether he wanted to write a children's story or not. I really liked the drawings and the little story told by Max.
Journal Entry 15 by bestfriends from - Ergens in de provincie, Gelderland Netherlands on Monday, February 11, 2008
The mail man delivered it personally today as it did not fit into my mailbox.
Wow, I never knew this was such a thick book. Hope it gets interesting way before page 400 (ana-b's review), as I don't think I will have the patience to sit that out, if not!
Thanks for sending and sharing. It will be up next.
Wow, I never knew this was such a thick book. Hope it gets interesting way before page 400 (ana-b's review), as I don't think I will have the patience to sit that out, if not!
Thanks for sending and sharing. It will be up next.
Journal Entry 16 by bestfriends from - Ergens in de provincie, Gelderland Netherlands on Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Sorry to say that I did not like it as much as I expected I would. In fact I could not wait until I finished it to start something else, which is never a good sign. Must admit that when I was about half way I started to skip whole chapters and moved quickly to the ending. Maybe I missed the best part that way, but I'm not motivated enough to read that second half again. The novel is too long and dragging in places for my taste. Could be I was not in the right mood for it.
Anyway, I liked the poignant short story "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" by John Boyne much better, also written for children and about WWII (though a different aspect of it). It says more, using less words!
To learn more about the sufferings of ordinary civilians in Germany during WWII, I would recommend to read certain novels by Heinrich Böll (e.g. "The Bread of Those Early Years, "House without Guardians"). I read those years ago and they were real eye-openers to me, having always thought (and led to believe) up to then, that it was the rest of occupied Europe that suffered, not "them".
Will be sent to iliotropio soon.
Thanks for sharing.
Anyway, I liked the poignant short story "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" by John Boyne much better, also written for children and about WWII (though a different aspect of it). It says more, using less words!
To learn more about the sufferings of ordinary civilians in Germany during WWII, I would recommend to read certain novels by Heinrich Böll (e.g. "The Bread of Those Early Years, "House without Guardians"). I read those years ago and they were real eye-openers to me, having always thought (and led to believe) up to then, that it was the rest of occupied Europe that suffered, not "them".
Will be sent to iliotropio soon.
Thanks for sharing.
Journal Entry 17 by bestfriends at [UTILISEZ 'Libération contrôlée' : Pays → Région → Ville] in -- controlled release --, Liège / Luik Belgium on Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Released 16 yrs ago (2/20/2008 UTC) at [UTILISEZ 'Libération contrôlée' : Pays → Région → Ville] in -- controlled release --, Liège / Luik Belgium
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES: 
Journal Entry 18 by iliotropio from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Tuesday, March 4, 2008
It has been waiting for me in the post office for some days now, as I was on holidays and only came back yesterday evening. Thank you bestfriends!
Journal Entry 19 by iliotropio from Bruxelles / Brussel, Bruxelles / Brussel Belgium on Thursday, June 19, 2008
Unforgettable, a literary achievement!
On its way to bookmaniac70 who´s been eager to read it.
On its way to bookmaniac70 who´s been eager to read it.
This long-awaited book arrived safely in Sofia. Thanks for sending,I`m looking forward to read it!
I had no difficulties reading and finishing this thick book. The story was sad and gripping,and I liked the characters- Liesel,Hans and Rosa Hubermann,Rudy,major`s wife. It presented a certainly interesting view into the WWII through the eyes of a child. We see people struggling to maintain their usual lives while they know it`s not possible. It`s touching to see Liesel dealing with ordinary things like books,friendship,school,first love,tiny mischief,while the whole world colapsed around her.
The book itself,though,IMO,had one serious flaw,and that was the style. For me it would make far stronger impression without using Death as narrator and all those pretentious turns of speech. I admit that was something which annoyed me during the reading.
Anyway,I`m very glad for having the opportunity to read this celebrated novel. Thanks to the organisator and everyone who helped its moving through the reading world of bookcrossers:-)).
The book itself,though,IMO,had one serious flaw,and that was the style. For me it would make far stronger impression without using Death as narrator and all those pretentious turns of speech. I admit that was something which annoyed me during the reading.
Anyway,I`m very glad for having the opportunity to read this celebrated novel. Thanks to the organisator and everyone who helped its moving through the reading world of bookcrossers:-)).
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to Pell.
Sent to Pell.
Book arrived safely today, thank you bookmaniac70 will try to read asap as i have one on the go at the moment, looking forward to this one very much
Thank you Nawoo82 for the privilege of joining this BR I thought this book was wonderful and so cleverly written.I couldnt tear myself away from reading it. A tale of war-time Germany and spoken throughout by 'Death'.
I would certainly love this book on my shelf in my permanant collection and would hope to read it again. I recommend others to read this unusual, engaging, thought provoking novel. Well done Zusak. Will forward to arugh when I have the address.
I would certainly love this book on my shelf in my permanant collection and would hope to read it again. I recommend others to read this unusual, engaging, thought provoking novel. Well done Zusak. Will forward to arugh when I have the address.
Posted of to arugh48187 today, Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
This one arrived on my doorstep today. I am a fast reader, so it shouldn't tarry long. You can keep track of its progress via my bookshelf.
Yikes! I've had this one way too long. My apologies for the delay, but I got stuck in a couple of big tomes and October was a bad reading month for me (due to entertaining visitors from afar.)
And now...what I thought of it.
Loved it. Loved the story. Loved the characters. Loved the point of view. I can't think of a single thing I didn't like about it. Well, maybe I wasn't overly thrilled with Max's writing, but that was ten pages at best. This was by far the best book I've read all year. The only reason that it is not a 10 is because I reserve that rating for those books that I loved so much that I must own. But I may change my mind, now that I think upon it. If I should stumble upon a copy, I would snatch it up to pass on to fellow readers that I pass good books on to, if there were two copies, well who's to say it wouldn't suddenly become a 10 and take up residence in my personal collection.
Enough rambling.
Good book. Thanks for sharing. I will pass it on shortly.
And now...what I thought of it.
Loved it. Loved the story. Loved the characters. Loved the point of view. I can't think of a single thing I didn't like about it. Well, maybe I wasn't overly thrilled with Max's writing, but that was ten pages at best. This was by far the best book I've read all year. The only reason that it is not a 10 is because I reserve that rating for those books that I loved so much that I must own. But I may change my mind, now that I think upon it. If I should stumble upon a copy, I would snatch it up to pass on to fellow readers that I pass good books on to, if there were two copies, well who's to say it wouldn't suddenly become a 10 and take up residence in my personal collection.
Enough rambling.
Good book. Thanks for sharing. I will pass it on shortly.
Journal Entry 28 by arugh48187 at Bangalore, Karnataka, India, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, November 30, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (11/30/2008 UTC) at Bangalore, Karnataka, India, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Boomda181 said that they already got a copy of this one, so it is off to kobie03 in Canada. Happy reading!
Boomda181 said that they already got a copy of this one, so it is off to kobie03 in Canada. Happy reading!
Journal Entry 29 by kobie03 from Lewins Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador Canada on Wednesday, December 31, 2008
This well travelled book arrived today. I have a few rings ahead of it and hope to have it on it's way in a couple of weeks. After reading the journal enteries I want to start it next but won't so I'll read the others faster to get to this wonderful story.
Journal Entry 30 by kobie03 from Lewins Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador Canada on Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Loved it. This book kept me up late into the night reading. I loved the story, the characters even Death, the narrator. It told the effect war has on it's own country's people and I kept thinking of the children in Gaza today enduring this devestation. Truly an extraordinary book. Thank you nawoo for including me in this ring.
Journal Entry 31 by kobie03 at Lewins Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador Canada on Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (1/14/2009 UTC) at Lewins Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador Canada
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
mailed to lauraloo29.
mailed to lauraloo29.
Oh goodness! This book is so thick! I have a few rings, but I'll keep them moving. Thank you!
I'm struggling with this book. It could possibly be because I have 5 other bookrings demanding attention. I start to read the book and then only last a few minutes. Not sure. I like the pictures the author leaves me with. Some of his sentences are so interesting. Perhaps I'm put off because of the size. Not sure.
I'll be popping this book in the mail to the next reader this weekend. Thank you for chance to read it and for including me in the ring. :)
I'll be popping this book in the mail to the next reader this weekend. Thank you for chance to read it and for including me in the ring. :)
Received this book in the mail today. I have one other ring ahead of it that I'm in the middle of ... should be done w/this within a month, though!
Wow, what a story. Told from an unusual perspective (Death), which is interesting, yet truthfully freaked me out a bit. Nevertheless, the story was gripping ... sad ... magical ... haunting. The story jumps around quite a bit - not in a bad way - but it was a bit disjointed for me and left me wondering quite a few things. Overall, though, an interesting read.
I've already got the addy for the next reader, will post soon.
I've already got the addy for the next reader, will post soon.
Released 15 yrs ago (3/10/2009 UTC) at
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Book is now on its way to GrammarBroad in Louisiana ... shipped via media mail tonight.
Book is now on its way to GrammarBroad in Louisiana ... shipped via media mail tonight.
Arrived today. Thanks! Looking forward to reading it.
Found this "lost" book. So sorry. Will send it on.
Sending this to hostile17, contacted through her Wish List. Sorry I lost this book for some time and messed up the ring it was on, but now it is on its way again. I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written book, although there are completely opposite opinions. Interesting that the movie will come out in a few days! Timely, huh?
I feel so honored to receive this very well travelled book.
Thank you GrammarBroad for finding this on my wishlist and sending it my way.
I'm looking forward to reading it soon!
Thank you GrammarBroad for finding this on my wishlist and sending it my way.
I'm looking forward to reading it soon!
