Tolog Review: The Book Thief

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
reviewed by Jia Yu Xin

While reading The Book Thief written by Australian author Markus Zusak, I first thought it is the lively novel about some children with special interest enjoying their sphere with plentiful books. However, my assumption was wrong and the novel is actually about the sad and heavy story occurred on a teenager during World War II.

Markus Zusak illustrates with third person narration and acts as the death in the novel; henceforth, Liesel have someone secretly watching on her. The Death is definitely not enthusiastic but also not absolutely hard-hearted. He observes the world with some sort of ironic while human are fighting each other but on the other side supporting each other. The Book Thief begins with the orphan Liesel Meminger when she was nine-years-old. She started her interminable reading journey after received a book for some occasional factors. Liesel can hardly make a living under the situation, and constantly suffers shortage of food and clothing. However, she found something more desirable and attracting to her, which is the support from book. Her desire of expressing herself with influential written language take root in her heart and soon grow into towering tree.

Author is pouring all of his emotions and feeling with descriptions of various colors. For example, white represents peace and silence; red represents blood and war; silver will be persistent conscience; and grey is despair and death. All the elements listed are tangled together. From unfamiliar to letters to become passionate about reading even under difficulties environment, Liesel present the strength of reading during her experience of growing up. She helped Jewish to escape from violence and helped her vulgar neighbors after being knowledgeable. In comparison with millions of soldiers fighting in the war, Liesel brings out a striking contrast for the Death by keep far away from bustling world and engage by the power of scripture and words.

In the novel, one half of the world is dreadful and suffering; but the other half is bright and full of love. God expect the Death to be cruel and ruthless, yet the Death is the gentlest protector of the soul. For the reason I would rather consider the novel with more hope. I did not have any feeling when I first started to read the novel, but it leaves me deeper impressions in the further stories. Seemingly I was also the Death, watching everything happening in the world, experiencing the cruel tragedy of the battles, and reflecting the true human nature of love.