The Book Thief (Film Tie-in)

I did like the relationship dynamic of the story. Notably that of Liesel and Papa, Liesel and Rudy, Liesel and Max. There are some moving moments in the book, a good use of irony and an unusual narrative. The ending is good and somehow very plausible However, I have to say I found the storyline altogether slow and meandering, the plot thin and for me there was never any sense of drama, tension or change of pace. The author’s use of metaphor is at times over the top, for example, the room tasted of sugar and a thousand pages!? There are some books in life that you want to pick up and read again. For me this isn’t one of them

This is such a moving book, very emotional and powerful, you get so invested in the characters and story. It gives an interesting insight into how life for an average German family was affected by the second world war. Everyone should read this

I had not heard of this book until I heard the review of it on Kermode and Mayo. I was intrigued by the premise of a lady giving up her two children and one dying on the way to the adopted family. That really drew me in.I found the first few pages a bit odd due to the fact that I hadn't clicked that it was being narrated by death. Once that happened I fell in love with the book. The descriptions given by death of the atrocities of war are amazing. The one about the souls escaping the gas chamber to sit on the roof with death himself really stuck with me.i highly recommend giving it a go

I just finished The Book Thief last night in bed in tears. I had not heard about the book at all but I love books and I bought it because the title suggested a story about someone as pasionate about books as I am.I almost gave up at the first few pages but I persevered and got into the rhythm of the writing and seeing "life" through the eyes of "Death".Other reviewers here have written more, eloquently than I, about the story and characters.All I want to say is it is the best book I have ever read, unforgettable! It is pure poetry and should be on the reading list for schools, the War in the story could be any conflict, Death is the only winner.

...so says Death himself as he narrates this powerful yet charming book about a young girl growing up with her foster parents in Germany during World War 2.I have little to add to the praise of the other reviewers but would like to say that this book would be an ideal read for an older child - age 10 upwards perhaps - as the central characters, Leisel and Rudy, are that age when the story starts and their view of the war, as it began to destroy Germany, is heart breaking yet tender in its realisation of characters and plot.One for the whole family to enjoy, at different levels.