14 April 2007

the book thief

is a wonderful book by markus zusak. it's narrated by death (very cool concept) and is largely a story from the perspective of a child. the plot is good, but the writing is better.

some quotes:

"God.
Twice, I speak it.
I say His name in a futile attempt to understand. “But it’s not your job to understand.” That’s me who answers. God never says anything. You think you’re the only one he never answers?"

"If only she could be so oblivious again, to feel such love without knowing it, mistaking it for laughter and bread with only the scent of jam spread out on top of it."

"Himmel Street was a procession of tangled people, all wrestling with their most precious belongings. In some cases, it was a baby. In others, a stack of photo albums or a wooden box."

"She sang a song, but it was so quiet that Liesel could not make it out. The notes were born on her breath, and they died at her lips."

"As is often the case with humans, when I read about them in the book thief’s words, I pitied them, though not as much as I felt for the ones I scooped up from various camps in that time. The Germans in basements were pitiable, surely, but at least they had a chance. The basement was not a washroom. They were not sent there for a shower. For those people, life was still achievable."

"..before the Jews were marched through Molching.
They were going to Dachau, to concentrate."

"The window.
Hands on the frame, scissor of the legs.
Landing feet.
Books and pages and a happy place."

none of the other books i have are matching up to this one... any ideas?!

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