As previously stated I actually had time to finish two books last week(both while driving)
the first
the second
was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
so here goes:
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
(disclaimer…I have not seen the movie and as I have several relatives/friends/older kids yet to read this book I will probably wait it out till they have read it and then….hopefully we’ll watch and analyze together)
Prior to reading this book I had never heard of Markus Zusak of course there is a webpage all about him
We are, as I type this in 2014, 19 years shy of the 100 year anniversary (though anniversary is not a good word for the Holocaust) of the start of the holocaust
we cannot forget the nonsensical genocide that took place
and its important that while there are still some who remember(and their numbers are dwindling all too quickly) that their stories be told
that we understand the horrors
that we feel the devastation
that we embrace humanity and vow to never let this happen again
(and yet is happening in places like Africa and the middle east as I type this people are being killed for their appearance, their, religion, their beliefs)
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Back to “The Book Thief”
This was the second time I read this book…the first I only got through the first chapter of a digital edition and could not get into it…I didn’t understand who was telling the story and was too distracted to read the back or read deeper.
Let me tell you
It is “Death” who narrates
It is “Death” who reports to God
It is “Death” who makes us all the same
It is “Death” who witnesses death….and life
It is “Death” who follows a young girl as she loses the people she cares about
and
It is “Death” who safely brings those killed in gas chambers and ovens and bullet fire to peace
The story is not pretty
and although
its descriptive
is not overly gory (though I have not seen the film so I cannot speak for that)
I want to tell you everything written in the book
and
at the same time
I want to tell you nothing.
so …
I’ll tell you this
An orphan girl
in Nazi Germany
an accordion
some nightmares
some books
a fugitive
a friend
and
Death.
Now
Go buy the book
read the book
share the book
and then if you must
I guess…
see the movie
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for more on the Holocaust check out the Jewish virtual library
{{ps I just read another of Markus books…”I am the Messenger” meh…}}
Book Reviews 