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Original poster

Is there anyone else on here who didn't love The Book Thief?

264 replies

TunipTheVegedude · 07/07/2013 20:54

I was told to persevere with it and I'm now 63% through and it's annoying me more than ever.
I'm finding it pretentious and dull and while some of the characters are fine, the girl is totally unconvincing - she reads like someone has sat down and decided on some interesting characteristics to give her ('I know! I'll make her good at fighting and football!') rather than the character growing naturally.
Is it going to get better in the last 37%?

OP posts:
AnonYonimousBird · 08/07/2013 09:39

I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. I felt the need to finish it, but wasn't that bothered.

Original poster
TunipTheVegedude · 08/07/2013 09:36

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about books taking that sort of mythic approach to the Holocaust.
The conceit of Death taking the people makes the whole thing feel inevitable and takes away some of the sense of human responsibility for what happened. It's oddly cozy and morally I'm afraid it might be a bit of a cop-out.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 08/07/2013 09:22

I enjoyed it but I'm not entirely sure I understood it completely.

Rather nicely, I actually "stole" the book from the supply in out holiday villa a couple of years back :) I did leave several of mine behind though.

MissAnnersley · 08/07/2013 09:19

I've picked it up a few times but have never got past the first two or three pages. I kept giving up because I didn't understand it. Blush

valiumredhead · 08/07/2013 09:05

Never been able to get past third chapter or so and I've tried a few times. Have given up now!

hackmum · 08/07/2013 08:58

I didn't like it. I particularly disliked the conceit of using Death as a character.

milkwasabadchoice · 07/07/2013 22:34

Loathed it. Ugh.

Floralnomad · 07/07/2013 22:31

I loved it ,but I'm not really a big reader and tend to dislike things other people like ( curious incident of the dog for example) . Now Cloud Atlas I gave up on after the first few pages .

JackieTheFart · 07/07/2013 22:31

I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. I don't think I'd read it again.

IThinkOfHappyWhenIThinkOfYou · 07/07/2013 22:30

I liked the foster mother, she is very like my mil

Khara · 07/07/2013 22:24

I hated it - don't know why - but I didn't finish it and I never don't finish a book.

Inthebeginning · 07/07/2013 21:58

I thought it was a beautiful book. I read it a few years ago. Thoughtful and graceful in my opinion.

NettoSuperstar · 07/07/2013 21:55

Mind you, it did make a change from my usual reading, the Sun. (Paper, rather than the large hot thing in the sky)

NettoSuperstar · 07/07/2013 21:53

I loved it, but then as a single Mum on benefits, what would I know.

Original poster
TunipTheVegedude · 07/07/2013 21:49

I am interested to know what you liked about it BOF. In a totally open-minded, what-am-I-missing kind of way.
I don't read much literary fiction but I don't assume that's because it's all rubbish, just that it's not my thing.

OP posts:
LRDLearningKnigaBook · 07/07/2013 21:45

Thanks!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 07/07/2013 21:43

LRD - if you liked the film, I'm sure you'd like the book. The end of the film is v different to the book though.

BOF · 07/07/2013 21:42

I think you either get it or you don't, Côte...

itsallshitandmoreshit · 07/07/2013 21:41

I hated it. I found it weak, childish and boring and struggled to finished it.

I'm not sure why people liked it so much but then you could say that about any book I guess Smile

LRDLearningKnigaBook · 07/07/2013 21:39

Oh, really, remus? Sad

I loved it. I am a giant wuss though. And I have a paranoia about that sort of idea, so it played on me being scared.

I clearly need to read the book. Smile

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 07/07/2013 21:38

The Daniel Radcliffe film? I loathed it. It didn't scare me at all, and I am a super-wuss usually.

CoteDAzur · 07/07/2013 21:37

Tell us, Professor BOF, what subtle literary achievement was in The Book Thief that has gone over our heads? I would really like to know Smile

imademarion · 07/07/2013 21:37

I couldn't be arsed to finish it; thought it was self-regarding twaddle, and I will pretty much read everything and anything.

Emperors New Clothes.

Gave it away half way through.

LRDLearningKnigaBook · 07/07/2013 21:36

I loved the film of Woman in Black - that is really scary.

Is the book better, or worse?

LRDLearningKnigaBook · 07/07/2013 21:36

Huh.

Cross posted, and just see my point proven.

BOF, excuse me while I curtsey.