Buddy Reads discussion

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4.5 stars
Really loved this book! I liked the characters, "ordinary" people living their everyday lives (instead of focusing on the fight/war, resistance, heroes etc) during this awful period and how each did his best to survive, to help others, how each felt pain and had their hardships, etc. I really felt attached to them and wanted to know what they would go through.
I quite liked the writing and story telling as well; it's like having Death over for a visit (now that sounds scary...) and he's telling me his story. He does give some spoilers about how it's going to end for some of the characters but although I usually don't like "spoilers" in this case I found it actually added to the experience, it intensified my feelings. (view spoiler)[Like, once I knew Rudy was going to die in two years time, I felt more for him when for example he was refused his kiss with Liesel or when he had that day that everything went wrong. Like Death said, "it's not about the mystery", I feel this story is not about the outcome, it's about the path, the journey they take, how they deal with everything this awful war brings them. (hide spoiler)].

I didn’t really like it:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Susy wrote: "4.5 stars
Really loved this book! I liked the characters, "ordinary" people living their everyday lives (instead of focusing on the fight/war, resistance, heroes etc) during this awful period and h..."

I love your review Susy. I am reading it and I feel the same way. We don't really get much about the other people to read about during the holocaust and everything. It's beautiful and yes I actually didn't mind the spoilers by death though they weren't usually good and gave me shivers. I am loving it!

Sorry you didn't like it Audrey.

My second book from this author.

How much we enjoy a book and how much it comes up to our expectations depends on what we expect from it or what we think it is about. We tend not to enjoy a book if it is something different from that, though it can be so much better at times. Our reading moods play a role too. So if you jump into this book expecting some big event or a huge climax, you’ll be disappointed (or maybe you’ll love it even more). This is a simple story with small twists that one can expect in a complicated Germany in WW2.

This is the story of 13 Himmel Street and it is narrated by Death itself. We follow Death as it tells us the story of Liesel, the Book Thief, from the time she saw her brother die to the end of her life (Death will spoil some things- be warned!). This isn’t about the holocaust and all other tortures the Jews suffered but the about the lives of others. The Germans who struggled and a Jew striving to survive in a gloomy and dangerous atmosphere oblivious to the rest of the world. It shows that there is another perspective to the Nazi Germany.

Personally, I loved it. I loved the movie and wanted to know more about the characters by reading the book. I wasn’t disappointed on either accounts. If you haven’t watched or read it, do it! Liesel is sweet and quiet and she tries to decipher every word thrown at her that is beyond her comprehension and every emotion that crosses across the face of her companions. As a reader, I enjoyed reading about her passion for reading and thievery. It’s fascinating how her hunger for books gets her from the illiterate new girl to the Liesel we come to know at the end. I also think that having Death as a narrator was pretty cool even though it ruins a couple of things by spoiling them way ahead of the story.

The writing is the best ad I loved the quotes thrown here and there. I liked the idea of books within the book. There was excellent character development and I loved all of them and this book is always going to be close to my heart. The rest is just spoiler:

My Thoughts as I Read:
For me mostly, but read it :)

Parts 1 and 2:
(view spoiler)[I’m quite enjoying the good times albeit they consist of struggles. I know it’ll eventually get too sad, but the journey is going to be totally worth it.

I love the writing as usual and it’s hard to stop once you start reading it. The Parts are too long, but thankfully the chapters are small and motivating. I couldn’t be happier that that this book lived up to the hype. (hide spoiler)]

Part 3:
(view spoiler)[Oh God, they are so mischievous. I can’t believe they stole all that food. This part wasn’t in the movie. (P.S. It gives me shivers what happened to the people that left. The fates they had. For e.g., Arthur Berg holding his dead sister.)

I feel like I don’t have much to say about the story itself-probably because I have watched the movie several times and all the thoughts I had are now gone. (hide spoiler)]

Part 4:
(view spoiler)[I can’t stop myself from falling in love with this book. I loved reading about Max and Liesel’s strange first meeting and stranger development of friendship after that.

I would be nice to say that after this breakthrough, neither Liesel or Max dreamed their bad visions again. It would be nice but untrue.

Damn!

Also, I noticed a few differences from the movie. I believe Max gives her the painted book to write her own story but I’m not sure. Maybe those pages were used twice. Also, Max didn’t himself decide to move to the basement but was moved all the same to avoid him being seen through the window in Liesel’s room. He also didn’t come upstairs every night to sleep. Did he? My recollection of it is rusty at best. Going to watch it again after finishing this.

Overall, another two beautiful and sad chapters and yet, somehow, it still brings a smile on my face. (hide spoiler)]

Part 5:
(view spoiler)[Oh God, Death tells us about Rudy’s death so damn early! I think it was the most tragic and tortuous moment in the movie with no prior indication to it, but I’m surprised to see death spoil it mid-way through the book. I wish he had gotten that kiss though. Also the last paragraph of this part was a killer one. (hide spoiler)]

Part 6:
(view spoiler)[I think the part I loved the most was when Rosa came to Liesel’s school to tell her that Max was awake. It was sweet and so warm. And I hated that Max was in the basement holding his rusted scissors like a knife when there was no chance for him. God, that hurt. And how he apologized. (hide spoiler)]

Part 7:
(view spoiler)[I didn’t know about the paint she did with her father and that the Mayor’s wife wrote her that letter. I wish she had knocked. It’s sad that it wasn’t in the movie. And Rudy didn’t win. That was stupid but I get him. (hide spoiler)]

Part 8:
(view spoiler)[Though I already knew so much about this book, I didn’t know about everything. So much detail was missed. I am enjoying reading it but these parts are desolate. Terrible but excellent. It’s so easy to picturize it all. I wonder what Max did all that time. Also it just hit me that Rudy found out about Max in the movie when he gets that book out of the river for Liesel. That added an extra layer to their friendship, would’ve been a good part here too.

And I loved that little story of Max’s but where is Max?

And Kiss him Liesel!!! (hide spoiler)]

Part 9 and 10:
(view spoiler)[I don’t know what to say. I just finished it and Part 10 was a constant stream of tears on my part. I’m going to start from the easy part. Rosa, I loved her. I guess her calling everyone Saukerl and Saumensch was her way of showing love. I wish one of them could voice how much they loved each other. Or that Liesel had seen Rosa with the accordion or the care with Max, but perhaps words weren’t needed. I, personally, loved her when she came to Liesel’s school to tell her about Max. I wish there was more of Liesel’s and Han’s relationship in the last two parts. And Max, damn, that Jewish Parade scene was just marvelous. It was epic. Tragic and Devastating and Epic. Max and Rudy. I guess I can never really get over Rudy and his kiss. I’m always gonna wish Liesel had given him that. Her last scene with Rudy was utterly moving. At least she got Max back-he’s always been like a brother for her. I loved Ilsa, she has been one of my favorites ever since Death hinted that she kept her window open for Liesel. I felt extremely sorry for Holtzapfels and Alex. The end with Death returning Liesel’s long lost book to her was a good effect. And this is a story I am going to remember forever. (hide spoiler)]

Great review, Aqsa

Thank you Catreads :)

5 stars!
I just finished this book and loved it. At first, I wasn't really sure what to expect and didn't really get the point of this novel. But after finishing it and really letting it sink in, it totally made sense and I loved it.

I really like how death was the narrator. Super interesting and It gave the book a spooky feel.
I loved the writing style of the book. Lyrical (and choppy at times) but so awe-inspiring. Death is generally perceived as a cold, unfeeling entity, but in this book, it's absolutely beautiful/heartbreaking how Death's tenderness sometimes shines through the darkest moment.
It elaborated on war but also included themes of love and betrayal. It was realistic and poetic and everything I could have wanted from a WWII novel!

I really loved this one and will reread it eventually.

Glad that you liked it so much Catreads! It was one of my favourites this year too!

Nice review Catreads :)
You're so right about death being portrayed so differently in this book. It's so ironic that death itself softens the impact of darkness and I was also rooting for it.

Susy wrote: "Glad that you liked it so much Catreads! It was one of my favourites this year too!"

I'm glad you loved it also, Susy! It was wonderful! : )

Aqsa wrote: "Nice review Catreads :)
You're so right about death being portrayed so differently in this book. It's so ironic that death itself softens the impact of darkness and I was also rooting for it."

Thank you, Aqsa