Did they deserve to die?

The following quote was said by the narrator.

“Did they deserve any better, these people? How many had actively persecuted others, high on the scent of Hitler’s gaze, repeating his sentences, his paragraphs, his opus? Was Rosa Hubermann responsible? The hider of a Jew? Or Hans? Did they all deserve to die? The children?” (Zusak 375-376)

The deaths of these characters were necessary to show the impact the war had on the lives of the Germans. It also demonstrates irony, as Liesel starts out abandoned, and ends up as an orphan at the end of the novel. Zusak has used these deaths to imply that there was no happy ending to the war and that there was only pain and suffering.

Evil in Humanity

The evilness of humanity is a theme that is constantly portrayed in the novel through Hitler’s dictatorship and the Nazi Party. The quote below was said by the narrator.

“I guess humans like to watch a little destruction. Sand castles, houses of cards, that’s where they begin. Their great skill is their capacity to escalate.” (Zusak 109)

This quote shows the destruction that is possible by humanity and it even implies that there is inner evil within all humans. Throughout the novel, books are burned, houses are bombed, and lives are murdered. These are examples of the destructions that humans cause due to their own goals and ambitions.

World War II Death March

Death Marches

The picture above shows a real life Death March of some Jewish Germans as they were passing through Dachau, Germany. This can relate to The Book Thief, as Max Vandenberg was also a part of a Death March in the novel. These Death Marches were brutal sightings and it showed humanity and its worst. To treat fellow human beings like prisoners is absolutely wrong and I still cannot fathom that such events occurred. Zusak evidently used Max to show the struggles of Jewish Germans at the time and it became extremely graphic to read about and to watch during the film.

Hitler Youth Organization

In the novel, Rudy Steiner is a part of an organization called the Hitler Youth. This was a huge struggle for young German children. Hitler even said the following quote.

“The weak must be chiselled away. I want young men and women who can suffer pain. A young German must be as swift as a greyhound, as tough as leather, and as hard as Krupp’s steel.” (Trueman)

This is a perfect example of the cruelty of Adolf Hitler’s dictatorship. In the novel, Rudy faced embarrassing experiences, such as being covered in mud and having to run laps. The Hitler Youth was an organization that existed during World War II, which crushed the dreams of many young German children. This was shown in the novel when Rudy’s dreams of becoming a professional athlete was destroyed when he got recruited to another training camp.

Heartbreaking Scene in the Movie

This was one of my vivid memories from the movie, as I was shocked to see a man so isolated from society. Max was absolutely struggling while living in the basement and it was extremely touching to see him ask Liesel about the weather. It is absolutely devastating to witness a man going through so many struggles, yet he was able to appear optimistic and satisfied in front of Liesel.

This clip also represents a major theme from the novel, which is the importance of words and literacy. After reading this novel, I gained a tremendous amount of respect for the education that I am currently receiving. It was horrible to see the lack of resources that Liesel had access to. However, it was heartwarming to see Liesel overcome all the barriers in her journey to be able to read. When she explains the weather to Max, I see it as evidence of the education that Hans Hubermann is teaching her.

About the Author

Markus Zusak is an Australian author who was born in 1975. He is most famous for his international best-seller, The Book Thief. Personally, I am interested in the fact that an Australian author was able to write a book with so many important and precise details regarding the struggles of Germans in World War II. Markus Zusak has shown the effort he has put into this novel when he said,

“I failed thousands of times writing The Book Thief, and that book now means everything to me” (Kinson).

This shows the amount of research and dedication that has been put into this novel. When I read this novel, I was fascinated by the amount of vivid imagery that the novel contained. Markus Zusak has truly enlightened me and through The Book Thief. he has written one of my favourite novels to this date.

The image above and more background details can be found at: http://www.randomhouse.com/features/markuszusak/about-the-author/

Statistics of the Holocaust

As shown in the images, the Holocaust killed nearly 6 million people. This relates to The Book Thief, as Max Vandenburg was depicted as a Jewish German. Throughout the novel, Max was in hiding because he had sacrificed everything he had for a chance at survival. Zusak used Max’s suffering and his unfortunate circumstance to show the bigger picture. He used Max to relate to all the Jewish Germans that suffered and died during the Holocaust, without ever actually mentioning the event once in the novel. I found this to be particularly interesting as the Holocaust is one of the prevalent topics that come to my mind when I think of World War II, and Zusak has made the reader ponder about the effects of the event without ever directly recognizing the massacre in the novel.

Note: The above statistics have been directly taken from the History Place and they own all the rights. It can be found at: http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/holocaust/h-statistics.htm

The Book Thief Trailer and Cast Interview

For a greater look at the film adaptation of the novel, The Book Thief, please watch this trailer, as the cast adds their own input.

The movie offers a visual experience, which depicts the struggles experienced by Germans during the war. The trailer highlights some memorable moments from the novel, and if you were interested in the novel, you will not be disappointed by the movie. By watching the movie, you will get a small taste of what Markus Zusak envisioned when writing the novel, The Book Thief.

Welcome to The Book Thief Blog

Through reading this blog, you will gain more insight of the novel, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. This novel revolves around a young girl named Liesel Meminger and the novel explores her journey through World War II. There are some heartbreaking moments, so be prepared to let your emotions get the best of you. Another major character is Max Vandenberg, who is a Jew that Liesel harboured in her basement. Throughout the novel, these two characters face multiple struggles together and it offers a deeper look into the struggles that Germans experienced during World War II. I hope you enjoy reading this blog and I truly hope that you learn more about this novel.

Thank you for your interest in this blog. All sources for citable content in this blog can be found in the following works cited list. Multimedia Works Cited