I finished reading this tonight. It’s about a girl growing up in Germany during WWII and those who play a part in her life. It is narrated in a punchy style by none other than Death himself.

It was very interesting for me to learn about what life was like for Germans at that time, as I’ve wondered in the past how a nation could collectively allow such atrocities to happen. Just for the record, I know realise the Germans suffered too, maybe not in the same ways as the Jews, but things weren’t easy. They were sent to die in the war or at least were short of food and terrorised by the Nazis. At least some felt shame even at the time.

There were some parts of the book where I felt a bit impatient because nothing seemed to be happening. But I think those parts are deliberate; ordinary life is interspered with the significant events to show that the characters are human.

The Book Thief is very powerful in spite of using only simple language. I cried during the last chapters. But at other times I laughed. Sometimes my heart was warmed by the spirit shown by the characters. At other times it thudded with fear for them.

There is a lot to The Book Thief. A Guardian review decrees that everyone should read it. I’m inclined to agree but with the caveat that they read Maus as well. Maus tells a similar tale but from a Jew’s point of view. It is even more powerful than The Book Thief and is one of my favourite books of all time.

(16th in 2012)