The Book Thief - MUST read

[katiekittlemouse]

I have just finished this book - it's brilliant! Well written, unusual, harrowing, sad, and in parts funny....
Everyone should read it!! What did you think?
It sits now on my shelf of the best books I've ever read with The Secret History, Shantaram and The Kite Runner.

Without meaning to be rude - How old are you people, and which other books are you comparing this to?

I'm at page 387 and it is still as superficial, dull, and childish as the first 10 pages.

Alice In Wonderland is a children's book, but it works on multiple levels and the adult reader takes something from it as well as the child. Same with Moby Dick, where a simple story carries complex themes.

Not here. The Book Thief is just a children's book. There is no complexity. Even death, a timeless entity that should be a source of penetrating wisdom and unique perspective, has nothing remotely interesting to say.

Why are you still reading this, Cote? Masochism?

Completely agree with you CoteDAzur.Found it dreadful and v badly written. Was not in the least surprised to see it was written by a youngish Australian.

Not masochism. Book club.

Which is also how I came to read such examples of mediocrity as Memory Keeper's Daughter and 1000 Splendid Suns.

Ah-ha. Why I've never joined a book club.

Shudder.

I agree that The Memory Keeper's Daughter and 1000 Splendid Suns were no good but I really liked The Book Thief.

Unfortunately it's a while since I read it and I can't remember much about it, so need to read it again.

The not remembering is a flaw in me, not in the book!

Yes, I was forced to read the Memory Keepers Daughter too.....

LOL. Would love to be a fly on the wall in Cote's book group when she lets rip about the general crappiness of this book.

I've done it before. They humor me

You should have seen me rant and rave on 1000 Splendid Suns. I was born & raised in a Muslim country so know a bit about the religion, customs, traditions and ripped that pile of poop page by page.

Just trying to visualise the stunned faces of the other members who thought it was 'a nice read'. Ho ho ho.

"Read it again"

Will you live forever? If not, just how do you justify another eight hours spent on these 500+ page book?

I'm just wishing for it to end now so I can start reading a book written for adults. Like Anathem (Neal Stephenson) or even Devil May Care (Sebastian Faulks).

Oh, that's nothing! I was forced to read The Time Traveller's Wife.

I nearly lost the will to live a few times.

You know what would make this book interesting? If the eternal, preternatural predator Death was more like Lestat in the book "Interview With The Vampire". He is just a vampire, but the subject of eternal life, witnessing the deaths of mortals, caring for humans but being above it all, etc was narrated with interesting depth and beauty.

This Death just rambles about the sky being "the color of Jews". Wtf?

Was it worse than Memory Keeper's Daughter?

forced to read TT Wife,me toomy sole book long haul will never get that tie back

Hmm, that would actually be an interesting competition, because The Memory Keeper's Daughter could certainly give it a run for its money. As could The Island.

Oh Memory Keeper wife,the endless descriptions schmaltzy naratives.eugh

See, I'd say that The Time Traveller's Wife is 'better', by virtue of being more original than The Book Thief, whose plot, while good-ish and worthy, was nevertheless almost entirely predictable (to say nothing about the style, however).

Haven't read The Memory Keeper's Daughter or The Island. Generally I avoid 'bestsellers' (unless it's Roth, whom I lurrrve). Somehow The Book Thief slipped under my radar. Waste of £7.99.

Oh the endless descriptions of snow in Memory Keeper's Daughter almost killed me.

He was "listening to the snow fall". Right.

Secret history by Donna Tartt was fabulous. I waited and waited then didn't like My Little Friend.

The book thief...I am reading now. Its ok, but not a stunner in my book. I am enjoying it, and yes it has brought me to tears, and laughter. May be i will feel differently when I finish it.

'Waste of £7.99.'

Was it sitting on the 3 for 2 table at Waterstone's?

fecking endless pages about wife willowy pallor,nape of neck etc.heavy on narrative low on story

Ironic that we keep bumping this thread, thus subliminally encouraging hordes of MNers to go and buy this MUST READ book...

Thought 'The Island' was dull, dull, dull.

Also thought that about Iris Murdoch's The Sea though. It was a memorable read, but undulated gently.