Monthly Archives: September 2013

Brooke Reviews: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

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The Book ThiefThe Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak was an extremely touching novel. There are many reasons I completely fell in love with this book, but I’ll give you my top three.

1. The book is narrated by Death.
Death personified makes for a fascinating read. Death has such an eloquent way of describing things. Everything is a color. He foreshadows but also flashes back. He frequently makes interesting side notes. He tells Leisel Meminger’s story through his own lens.

2. Leisel Meminger, book thief, protagonist of the novel.
Leisel is a little bit of everything. She is loyal, she is sensitive, she is strong, she is smart, she is stubborn, she is eager. She has a fierce love of words.

3. Time period – WWII, Nazi Germany.
I just don’t think this book would be the same if it didn’t take place during WWII. Leisel Meminger’s story is special, because she formed a special relationship with a Jew who hid in her basement. Leisel saw and experienced many things a young girl should never see or experience.

This book was such a beautiful (yet somewhat tragic) tale about friendship and love and the power of words.

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Best Books of Summer

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School is back in session, but I did some great reading over the summer. Because I did not write reviews for these books, I thought it might be a better idea to list these novels in one place.

 

In no particular order:

 

Reboot-HC-CoverReboot (Amy Tintera) – Loved the concept of this book – so interesting. Wren is a hard-core protagonist, but I loved her contradictory character and her dynamic with Callum, who pushes past the walls guarding Wren’s heart.

 

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Shadow and Bone (Leigh Bardugo) – Read this book in a day. On vacation, during the half-hour car ride from my cousins’ house to Washington, D.C.. Loved the world Leigh Bardugo created, and was fascinated by the Shadow Fold and both Alina and the Darkling’s powers. I also read Siege and Storm, the sequel. Currently waiting on Book 3, Ruin and Rising, which will be released in 2014.

 

kiterunnerKite Runner (Khaled Hosseini) – I have no words.

Also read this book while on vacation in Washington, D.C. (or on the plane, rather). This was my assigned summer reading for my AP Literature class, and honestly, I did not expect to enjoy it. But the book was so rich and meaningful and I still sometimes catch myself thinking about it. Khaled Hosseini creates Amir to be a protagonist the reader both hates and loves, because we recognize him as a coward but identify with his humanness.

 

fault in our stars

The Fault in Our Stars (John Green) – Picked it up in my local bookstore because I’ve heard so many great things. Couldn’t put it down! Hazel and Gus are such quirky characters, and both captured my heart. Warning: do not read this book without  a box of tissues close by.

 

9780142410974_JustListen_CV.inddJust Listen (Sarah Dessen) – Actually, I read five Sarah Dessen novels (including Just Listen) and thoroughly enjoyed them all. She truly has a gift for creating characters her readers can completely identify with.

And, of course, I am a sucker for romance.

 

*To come: Review of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

 

Blog schedule for the remainder of 2013 – I will be posting on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (Posts will include general writing tips, book reviews, and author interviews.)