The book club selection for the Reno Newcomers Club Book Club this month was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I decided to get this book from the library rather than buy it for my Kindle because I didn't think I would want to read it again but now I am not sure.
I can't say I enjoyed reading this book because as I read it I had a sense of dread. How can you not have a sense of dread when the book is set in Nazi Germany and the narrator is Death.
In spite of the fact that I didn't enjoy reading the book I was totally blown away by the book. What a masterpiece. The multiple layers. The unforgettable characters. I feel like I know them. My sense of dread was because I cared about them.
The Book Thief talks about the power of words to heal as well as wound. It talks about the power of words to calm. One of my favorite parts of the book was when the main character, Liesel, reads to her neighbors and family in the bomb shelter. It reminds me of how I read to my girls when they were growing up. Especially how I would sit between their two rooms and read to them when they were teenagers and were going to sleep after an exhausting day.
I think if I were to read The Book Thief again I might be able to relax and enjoy the intricacies, the colors, the words and the rich themes of love, loyalty, humor, community, and the power of words.
Marion's Blog 
I really enjoyed The Book Thief, despite the fact that it was hard to read at times. It was one of the best books I’ve read this year.
I reviewed it on my bloghere if you’re interested.
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I read this earlier this year. One of my favorite reads so far for 2009.
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