The Book Thief Book Review

One unhappy evening, I decided to pick up my first book post-Potter. There were only three books I felt like reading really. 1. Winter by Marissa Meyer, which was still on its way to me from the publisher. 2. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, because that just seemed like the most obvious choice after You-Know-What. 3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, because it was something entirely different and I needed that. I made the right choice.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Oh, how I miss to just brainlessly give 5 stars to a book, despite the long titles that accompany it. But all of that aside, I really enjoyed reading this. Sometimes I just find a book that fits my reading necessities at that moment perfectly. *fake coughing* Divergent, Legend, Cinder *finishes fake coughing* Of course, there are the unfortunate, who manage to hit me at exactly the wrong moment. *more fake coughing* the Heir, the Host (it still managed to pull 5 stars out of me), Son *now really stops the fake coughing* We're nearing the holidays, so maybe I'm just more cheerful than normally, but still, forty points to Himmel Street! Aka 4 stars. BEWARE. That does not mean I think everyone should read this. I would never recommend this book to my actionzombie-friends. I do recommend it to people who genuinely appreciate HOW a story is told and who can take some alternative writing, as well as things like metaphors and very imaginative use of words and fonts. If you're just in it for the story, move along. This is more like hardcore literature. 

This is a review without spoilers (except for one very mild one that I will warn you about once we get there), so enjoy reading this entire thing if you find time and need to do so.

Yes, let's start there. Even though I'd already seen the movie and therefor knew exactly what was going to happen, I did not appreciate Death constantly spoiling this book for me. Not cool. What I did really like was the way Death is telling the story. You feel through his words how much he cares about this one person and her life. You notice how carefully he handles younger souls and that he actually dislikes his job and his eternal life. I pitied him and I cared about him, probably more than I did about the actual characters.

Yeah, they're cute, but as I said, if you're just in it for the plot, this is most likely not a book you'd enjoy. There are better ones out there in that area. Liesel's cute and nice, but she's not an epic main character that I could really relate to or root for. Yes, I wanted her to live. Yes, I wanted Max and Hans and Rose and Ilsa and all those people to be okay, but not with the burning love and hatred and feels that I suffer with my lovely plot-rich books. This was, for me, at this moment, better actually, because it might've only plumped me back into the slumpy mood of post-epicness.

What made this book worthy of 4 prestigious stars was the writing. I loved how the small facts and dictionary passages where printed on the page and the way Death talked directly to the reader. Even the mere choices he made concerning the descriptions were wonderful to read about.
Warning: I think I'm saying it for the tenth time by now: pretty writing but little plot makes the book slow. If you can't handle the average bit of slowness that comes with alternative and experimental writing styles, than you don't pick up this book. You just don't.

*pushes 'pick-up-book' button*
*reads the following*

You're a rebel, I like you.

Mild spoiler here:

If you've read the book or seen the movie, you might be wondering if I cried. A brief explanation.

Movie:

I cried like buckets in my pupils were spilling water out.

Book:

If you agree I have to stop reading emotional books in my living room, RAISE YOUR GLASS!

It has been decided.