Commentary on The Book Thief Essay

It feels good, doesn't it? To steal something back. (483) This is a story about words and a young girl's realization of their power. Markus Zusak's The Book Thief was filled with eloquent descriptions and creative use of situational, and sometimes cruel irony. Also, the research and time that went into making this story as historically accurate as possible is obvious in it's writing. One finds the characters full of depth and emotion, such as the character of Liesel, the main character. Each of these character have their own deep effect on Liesel, and on the reader. They all stand beside Liesel as she struggles throughout the book, against society, against poverty, against others, and most of all against herself.

Zusak's disctiptive ablilties appreciate

The most interesting aspect of this story is its narrator. This story is told by Death, it's accounting of the story influenced by it's own experience, and that of Liesel, who wrote her own story down. But her book was lost and later found by Death, who kept it as a treasured item. Death is well written by Zusak, unrevealing yet moving. The only think that is certain about death is not it's appearance, it's gender, or it's origins. I do not carry a sickle or scythe. I only where a hooded black robe when it's cold. And I don't have those facial features you seem to enjoy pinning on me from a distance. You want to know what I truly look like? I'll help you out. Find yourself a mirror while I continue. (307) The only thing certain is it's feelings of mankind and the world that surrounds them. Death is left worn and empty by it's line of work. To keep it's sanity, it focuses on the color of the sky, avoiding the pain below it's gaze. Death avoids getting involved in the affairs of man, but sometimes Death finds itself draw into someones life. Liesel's life is one such example. And as Death enjoyed Liesel's life story, it also became involved in it, and once more felt pain for it. For this, Death last line and the the last line of the book is I am haunted by humans. (550) There is a sense of irony in this, for so many of live in fear of death, and here is is Death who can not even look humans in the eye.

It is terrifying how emotionally invested one becomes in the tale of this young girl and that of those around her. With its excellent description, this book causes you to feel as if you too are hiding in the basement, listening to Liesel reading to you as the bombs rein down from above. Or that you too are feeling the stinging whack of Rosa's wooden spoon upon your head. Your stomach constricts as Liesel sneaks into the home of the mayor to steal a book. And your heart aches with each passing sorrow that is as real to you as anything could be today. This is the most highly recommendable book I have ever had the pleasure to read. It is also highly recommended that you stock up on tissues before embarking on this tale, spoken to us from the lips of Death.