Spoonie Reads discussion

This is a place to discuss The Book Thief.

Read at your own pace.
Please don't post any spoilers.
Enjoy!

Some questions to start the discussion:
Do you like Death's voice? What do you think of him as being the narrator?

Who is your favorite character?

What did you think of when you first heard the book's title?

Has anyone seen the movie?

I saw the movie, thought it was quite good. I wasn't expecting it to be a very good adaptation lol

I actually quite liked the small changes they made in the film (not saying what they are because spoilers :] )

I'll have to check the movie out.

Ah! I only got halfway through the Book Thief before my audiobook expired(library/overdrive copy) in January. This will be good incentive to get back at it!

Devin wrote: "Ah! I only got halfway through the Book Thief before my audiobook expired(library/overdrive copy) in January. This will be good incentive to get back at it!"

Excellent incentive! I love the digital library but hate the deadline sometimes.

Do you like Death's voice? What do you think of him as being the narrator?

Who is your favorite character?

What did you think when you first heard the book's title?

I like Death's narration because he seems kind of sassy and cavalier. I would to if I were Death, I suppose. If anyone watched Billy and Mandy in the early 00s, Death reminds me a great deal of Grim. That being said, he does seem to go off on some annoying trains of thought. The way it bounces around from who is talking at any given time throws me off some, I find it hard to follow.

Papa is probably my favorite character(so far), with his good heart. I don't like the abuse he takes from Mama, and their relationship makes me very uncomfortable.

The title got my attention before I read it, but I was a little disappointed as I read. She only acquires a few books, and while I understand her conditions made it a pretty big deal, it hasn't been too fulfilling so far in the 'rebelling against the system' way I hoped, though hiding fugitives probably makes up for that if I'm honest.

Devin wrote: "I like Death's narration because he seems kind of sassy and cavalier. I would to if I were Death, I suppose. If anyone watched Billy and Mandy in the early 00s, Death reminds me a great deal of Gri..."

I can picture Death as Grimm. I also had a hard time following it. To the point where I would have to reread the paragraph in the right person's voice.

The title also got my attention but I learned from Fiddler on The Roof not to judge from the title. I was disappointed from the title alone.

I'm having a really hard time getting into this book :( Where are you all at with it?

Devin wrote: "I like Death's narration because he seems kind of sassy and cavalier. I would to if I were Death, I suppose. If anyone watched Billy and Mandy in the early 00s, Death reminds me a great deal of Gri..."

Given the punishment for hiding a fugitive, it's a pretty huge rebellion. People were executed for putting up flyers in WWII Germany, after all (see the White Rose resistance group).

One of the reasons I loved this book is because it's more realistic, in terms of the family and what the people are doing. It's important to show every-day people doing every-day things but still doing what they can to reconcile their distaste for the system they're living under.

I haven't started re-reading it yet. I was already a fan of Zusak's books when it was released. Due the hype I was nervous to read it, worrying that it was over-hyped, but I ended up really loved it.

Will wrote: "I'm having a really hard time getting into this book :( Where are you all at with it?"

That is understandable. I tried to read it the first time and ended up abandoning it.

Some people said that there isn't nessecarily a bad book, usually it isn't the right time to read it.
So with that advice I abandoned it and picked it up a year later and loved it.

Maybe try a refresher book like a favorite genre or book and go back to The Book Thief.

Meredith wrote: "Devin wrote: "I like Death's narration because he seems kind of sassy and cavalier. I would to if I were Death, I suppose. If anyone watched Billy and Mandy in the early 00s, Death reminds me a gre..."

Have you read The Messenger by him?
That is another book that I abandoned but came back to it and really enjoyed it.

Brittie wrote: "Meredith wrote: "Devin wrote: "I like Death's narration because he seems kind of sassy and cavalier. I would to if I were Death, I suppose. If anyone watched Billy and Mandy in the early 00s, Death..."

I haven't yet! It came out when I was working in a bookstore and my to-read list was ridiculous and then I kept forgetting about it. Thanks for reminding me, I just asked the library to hold it for me!

Since watching the movie, my favorite character is The Father.

I prefer the book though.

Brittie wrote: "Will wrote: "I'm having a really hard time getting into this book :( Where are you all at with it?"

That is understandable. I tried to read it the first time and ended up abandoning it.

Some peo..."

I had never heard of him or any of his books until the movie hype for Book Thief was all stirred up! I will look into The Messenger

Devin wrote: "Brittie wrote: "Will wrote: "I'm having a really hard time getting into this book :( Where are you all at with it?"

That is understandable. I tried to read it the first time and ended up abandonin..."

I really like the message of the Messenger. I decided to check out his other books when I heard about the Book Thief.

I finally started this today!

I'm liking it so far, and I mostly like Death as a narrator. It's strange -- there are some things I really like about the writing, and other times the narration style jars me, but I'm enjoying it overall. I like Papa.

Amy wrote: "I finally started this today!

I'm liking it so far, and I mostly like Death as a narrator. It's strange -- there are some things I really like about the writing, and other times the narration styl..."

Congrats! I found it strange the first time around but the second time I loved it.

Papa seems to be the Reader's Favorite!

Favorite quote?

Mine is

"They ignore the reality that a new version of the same old problem will be waiting at the end of the trip- the relative you cringe to kiss."