The Book Thief

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak

Set in Germany during the Second World War, this book, unlike many others set in this period, does not focus on Jews. There are Jewish characters in the book, and the plight of the Jews is by no means ignored. But our heroine is German. Her name is Liesel.

Some of the characters, though charming, feel too whimsical to be real. The constant name-calling as an expression of affection has its moments, but these are few and far between, making the constant background noise of "saumensch!" feel unnecessary and clunky.

A unique feature of this book is the narrator. He is Death. Zusak's Death is not a silent spectre, nor an aloof observor. He feels, and tries to avoid his feelings. He is a sympathetic figure.

Zusak's style is sharp, choppy, and perfect for this book. I have not read any of his other works, so I am unable to say whether this style is his normal one, or whether he adopted it for this tale. There are points when the style verges on the indulgent, when one simply wants the story to move forward. The lists made by Death feel honest, like the lists people would make when trying to assert control over their world.

What would anyone be without words? This is a question the book addresses. Liesel grows into someone who truly knows the value of words. She knows what is worth stealing. Words have the power to calm frantic people in bomb shelters and to forge steel bonds of friendship between a German and a Jew.

This book is not perfect. But, then, no book is. It is a book that I approached with reluctance and left grudgingly. The first few pages are confusing, but once Zusak begins the core story, it is well worth reading.

Genre: In America, it is classified as Young Adult, in Australia, it is shelved with the Adult fiction. Whatever age range you choose, it is a historical novel dealing with the extreme themes of that time period.

Age Range: I would say it is young adult, but an older young adult. 14+

Length: over 500 pages

Additional Comments: This book is powerful and moving. It may not change your life, but it will help you explore who you want to be and how you view the value of words.

The Sherwood Ring

Another book by Elizabeth Marie Pope, The Sherwood Ring cleverly combines fantasy with reality. Ghosts are real, and they can, under certain circumstances, contact the living. This is not a book about Robin Hood!

Peggy Grahame is a young orphan who is sent to live with her reclusive Uncle Enos. Enos lives on the family estate and focuses his energy on preserving the estate in exact historical condition. Since Peggy is without any other companionship, the ghosts of Peggy's ancestors tell her their stories, with very interesting results.

It was a very fun, quick read. I loved the story and the way it unfolded. One of the few negatives I have is that it was a touch predictable. Plus, the present day characters and the ghosts from the past were much too similar. Overall, it was very enjoyable and I would definitely read it again.

Genre: young adult, historical fiction

Length: a few hundred pages

Age: ten and up

Additional Comments: This is a book that will eventually be added to my library.

Trouble, by Gary Schmidt

Gary Schmidt's book Trouble

Whenever a book makes me cry, I say it is good. Why? Because it contains characters that I care enough about to awaken my sympathy, and sometimes even my empathy. This is not a light-hearted romp. It begins with Henry's older brother lying in the hospital in a coma.

throughout the book, Henry must deal with his guilt, his anger, and his racism. He must learn to face reality. This book addresses real topics of forgiveness and hatred, love and hardships, how actions have consequences, and how trouble can never be avoided - it must be faced.


Genre: Young Adult

Length: 300 pages

Age Range: 12+

Additional Comments: Read it.

Dora, by Johanna Spyri

This book, Dora, is brought to us by the author of the beloved children's classic, Heidi. Like Heidi, Dora is about a young orphan girl in Switzerland. It simply is not as good as Heidi. It is not a bad book, but the characters lack the charm and depth of the more famous book.

Everything felt familiar, like I had read it all before. Even though it lacked a spark of originality, I enjoyed reading this book. It was quick and fun - a pancake kind of a book. Young girls who enjoy Heidi will probably also enjoy this one.

Genre: Children's Fiction

Age Range: Probably about 10

Length: Mediumish - simple language

Additional Comments: It may be a little better than I have described it to be. It is not a bad book, simply not an excellent one.

Nobody's Fool

Nobody's Fool
by Richard Russo

This book nearly killed me. I would have liked nothing better than to lay it down and never pick it up again. However, dear readers, I thought of you and persevered. The pacing was extremely slow. I found that the writing, although not without merit, did not manage to keep me engaged with the story or the characters.

The book is not without its good points. The characters are very realistic and well developed. The setting is believable, and the situations also feel as though they could be true. However, it feels like nothing happens. There are some small snippets of redemptive growth in a few characters. Maybe it is the worldview of the book that bothers me the most. It feels like a book which has forgotten about hope.

I am not sure if I will ever read any other book by this author. The cover of this book informs me that he is a Pulitzer Prize winning author for Empire Falls, so I may, someday, when I have recovered from this book, give that book a try. Until that day, read at your own risk.

Genre: Modern Fiction

Length: over 500 pages, and it feels at least that long

Age Range: Definitely a book for adults due to the multiple sexual references.

Additional Notes: If this is the kind of book you like, you will like this book. It just is not my cup of tea. This is a bitter green tea, with no sugar or cream to lessen the sharpness.

The Perilous Gard

This book, written by Elizabeth Marie Pope in 1971, is my first random find. I had never heard of the author and I had never heard of the book.

It is a book well worth reading. The main character, Katherine, is not a perfect girl. She has many traits that could be considered undesirable. But it is these same traits which aid her when she is banished to the ancient castle known as Perilous Gard. She, with the help of others, struggles to unravel the mysteries surrounding the castle and the ancient legends of the land.

Although this book has a specific historical context, England in the 1500s, knowledge of the time period is not essential. Knowing the history and legends will, however, enhance your enjoyment.

I could go on and on about the deft way in which the fantastical elements are woven into the story, never appearing misplaced or unbelievable. Or I could spend my time giving an exhaustive plot description. But I won't. I will simply state that this is a good book, and you should read it. And don't just take my word for it. I am not the only one to recognize this book's merit. In 1975, it was awarded the Newbery Honor.

Genre: Young Adult - Fantasy

Age Range: I would guess around age 12 and up.

Length: Nearly 300 pages, but it is still a fairly quick read

Additional notes: It feels like a book for girls. Boys may enjoy the adventure and mystery portions of the tale, but they often object to romance.