I got a Kindle (my first one) for Christmas. I saw this title in the Kindle store and it let me read the first section of the book for free and I was hooked.

Strangely enough, it ended up being one of the best books I've ever read. Ever.

This story is told from the point of view of the Narrator, "death". The tale takes place in Nazi Germany. I have always thought of the German people of this time as monsters. This book opened my eyes to ordinary people caught up in a terrible time. Some were monstrous in that they supported the actions of their government. Some, like the young girl, Liesel, merely want to live and enjoy their lives.

Because of the horrors of Germany of that time, Liesel witnesses the death of her brother and is given up by her mother to Foster Parents. The young girl loves books (and enjoys stealing them) and her kind and sweet natured Foster dad helps nurture her reading over the course of a few years. The man and his wife are so kind and good that they hide a young Jewish man who is fleeing for his life. Imagine to be fleeing for your life for years and years. The young Jewish man, Max, nurtures Liesel in her writing, which is tremendous.

This is a story of survival and of course, "death."

This story is about people in their kindness who rise above a horror that is unimaginable really to anyone who did not live through it. I think it is a story for people of all ages.

Liesel and her Foster Dad and Rudy Steiner and, of course, Max. Dear, dear Max. I could not help but wonder what became of him after the War, farther down the line.

not knowing what became of Max. I was upset by the ending, but Death is like that - upsetting.

broaden my view of historical events. I still hate the Nazi Party, Socialists in general and of course that montrous buffoon who took his own easy way to hell in the end.

knows how to tell a story in a way that engages the reader. I read it on my Kindle in 2 days and I am not typically a fast reader. I read for hours - it was that engrossing.

it is the story of extraordinary people who should have led ordinary lives. Instead, they were caught up in the demonic cavortings of a government that was truly out of control.

Interested in buying this? Support Writing.Com by making your purchase of The Book Thief   from Amazon.Com!

Created Dec 29, 2013 at 10:06am • Submit your own review...