Honors Free Book Choice
For honors Humanities, I to read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak for my free choice book. I read this book over Thanksgiving break and I loved the novel. I am going to see the movie soon to compare and I hope the movie is just as good as the book. I began The Book Thief as an interested reader but it quickly grew into such a moving, and personally touching, story that showed me the love of written word is so powerful. The parallels to my own family were astounding and it helps me feel a deeper appreciation for their struggle, as well as Liesel’s. I would recommend this book to teenagers who are interested in Germany in an awful time. It is violent but portraits humanity and triumphs. Below is my book summary and reflection.
The Book Thief , written by Markus Zusak, describes a horrific time in Nazi Germany during World World II. The Book Thief is narrated by Death and tells the story of nine year old Liesel Meminger’s traumatic upbringing. During a time where everyone had to be self-sufficient, Liesel’s mother could not take care of Liesel and her younger brother Werner. As a result, she plans on giving them up to foster care and takes a train heading to Molching. On the train ride, Werner dies in his mother’s arms due to lack of medical attention when he was hungry and cold. Liesel and her mother stop at a snowy graveyard to bury young Werner. As the gravedigger is walking away from the site, a book called The Gravedigger’s Handbook slips out of his coat and is picked up by Liesel. When Liesel arrives at the foster home, she is welcomed by her new father Hans but is given a cold welcome from her new mother. She begins school and soon her foster parents and teachers discover that she can not read. However, she does meet a good friend, Rudy Steiner to help her adjust. Liesel has nightmares frequently but was comforted by Hans who reads The Gravedigger’s Handbook to her until she falls back asleep. Liesel soon becomes a better reader and writer and her fascination with books continues. She even risks her life to break into the mayor’s house just to visit his extensive library. Through all her triumphs and tragedies, writing and books are at the forefront. Years later, Liesel begins writing her story called The Book Thief.
My favorite part of this book was surprisingly the end although Liesel dies. I like this part the best because first off, obviously everything in this world has a time where their soul leaves their body and they die. Some people, including myself, associate death with a bad and scary thing. I think this book changed my perspective. Prior to reading this I never thought of death as a person and I think this is a very interesting point of view. One of my favorite quotes is the last sentence of the book when Death says, “I’m in most places at least once, and in 1943, I was just about everywhere.” This quote is very powerful because it speaks to the horrific war that was happening. Some might think that this book is morbid and evil, however I think it is very important to learn about a time through a character who had a very rough childhood, although I can not relate to Liesel in many ways. Overall, I think this book was very unique and was a great book to have discussions about with my family and friends. In some ways, this book has inspired some of my writing and sparked some creativity in me. The Book Thief is captivating and emotional.
At first, it was hard to make a connection to a book that captures such a depressing time period and compare it to my life where I am extremely blessed. However, I am taken back to my roots. On November 10th, 1938, “Kristallnacht” occurred. This is a night that Liesel witnesses and my great great grandfather Sally Bucky was a part of. Sally’s department store was destroyed on Kristallnacht and his home was invaded by Nazi soldiers. Most of his possessions were destroyed and he was dragged in the middle of the street and beaten brutally along with his family. Sally’s daughter, Franziska, my great aunt, was sent to prison for treason. Just like Liesel, she had a deep love of books. It is told that her library was her “sanctuary” and she even had a friendship with Thomas Mann, with whom she exchanged many letters. However, because of this relationship and because she had books written by Jewish authors, she was considered treasonous and her books were taken and burned. Liesel steals one of her books during a Nazi book burning. It is selfish to think of but I pictured Franziska’s books burning in the street and young Liesel just watching and waiting for her moment to step in and “rescue” one.
The long war in Germany created a poverty that we can only imagine. Liesel steals fruit, as the risk of her own life, and is only allowed two meals a day because her family is so poor. During this time, my great great grandmother, Marianne Bucky, fed hungry citizens who were often out of work. She had a kind and compassionate heart. In fact, there is a home in Germany to this day that bears her name. Liesel’s foster parents also demonstrate these same characteristics, particularly when they risk their lives to hide a Jewish man in their basement.
The Book Thief , written by Markus Zusak, describes a horrific time in Nazi Germany during World World II. The Book Thief is narrated by Death and tells the story of nine year old Liesel Meminger’s traumatic upbringing. During a time where everyone had to be self-sufficient, Liesel’s mother could not take care of Liesel and her younger brother Werner. As a result, she plans on giving them up to foster care and takes a train heading to Molching. On the train ride, Werner dies in his mother’s arms due to lack of medical attention when he was hungry and cold. Liesel and her mother stop at a snowy graveyard to bury young Werner. As the gravedigger is walking away from the site, a book called The Gravedigger’s Handbook slips out of his coat and is picked up by Liesel. When Liesel arrives at the foster home, she is welcomed by her new father Hans but is given a cold welcome from her new mother. She begins school and soon her foster parents and teachers discover that she can not read. However, she does meet a good friend, Rudy Steiner to help her adjust. Liesel has nightmares frequently but was comforted by Hans who reads The Gravedigger’s Handbook to her until she falls back asleep. Liesel soon becomes a better reader and writer and her fascination with books continues. She even risks her life to break into the mayor’s house just to visit his extensive library. Through all her triumphs and tragedies, writing and books are at the forefront. Years later, Liesel begins writing her story called The Book Thief.
My favorite part of this book was surprisingly the end although Liesel dies. I like this part the best because first off, obviously everything in this world has a time where their soul leaves their body and they die. Some people, including myself, associate death with a bad and scary thing. I think this book changed my perspective. Prior to reading this I never thought of death as a person and I think this is a very interesting point of view. One of my favorite quotes is the last sentence of the book when Death says, “I’m in most places at least once, and in 1943, I was just about everywhere.” This quote is very powerful because it speaks to the horrific war that was happening. Some might think that this book is morbid and evil, however I think it is very important to learn about a time through a character who had a very rough childhood, although I can not relate to Liesel in many ways. Overall, I think this book was very unique and was a great book to have discussions about with my family and friends. In some ways, this book has inspired some of my writing and sparked some creativity in me. The Book Thief is captivating and emotional.
At first, it was hard to make a connection to a book that captures such a depressing time period and compare it to my life where I am extremely blessed. However, I am taken back to my roots. On November 10th, 1938, “Kristallnacht” occurred. This is a night that Liesel witnesses and my great great grandfather Sally Bucky was a part of. Sally’s department store was destroyed on Kristallnacht and his home was invaded by Nazi soldiers. Most of his possessions were destroyed and he was dragged in the middle of the street and beaten brutally along with his family. Sally’s daughter, Franziska, my great aunt, was sent to prison for treason. Just like Liesel, she had a deep love of books. It is told that her library was her “sanctuary” and she even had a friendship with Thomas Mann, with whom she exchanged many letters. However, because of this relationship and because she had books written by Jewish authors, she was considered treasonous and her books were taken and burned. Liesel steals one of her books during a Nazi book burning. It is selfish to think of but I pictured Franziska’s books burning in the street and young Liesel just watching and waiting for her moment to step in and “rescue” one.
The long war in Germany created a poverty that we can only imagine. Liesel steals fruit, as the risk of her own life, and is only allowed two meals a day because her family is so poor. During this time, my great great grandmother, Marianne Bucky, fed hungry citizens who were often out of work. She had a kind and compassionate heart. In fact, there is a home in Germany to this day that bears her name. Liesel’s foster parents also demonstrate these same characteristics, particularly when they risk their lives to hide a Jewish man in their basement.