more about it later

edit 11.12.2008:

So I never got around to journaling this book... I just read the entry by lukutuoli (below), and I could have written every word. Absolutely. Even the comparison with The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas!

And yes, it will be interesting to see later journal entries. I hope there will be some, though I can't recommend the book. Maybe someone enjoys this.

Varattu lukutuolille kesän 2008 bookcrossing-tapaamiseen Suomenlinnassa. Sitä ennen lainattavissa.

I found this wishlist book of mine from the bookexchange table during the Finnish Summer BookCrossing Convention in Suomenlinna. Thanks a lot, oofiri, for registering and releasing this book - it was nice to see from your JE, that you have reserved this book for me already in November :)

EDIT 090608
Tarna and Kemppu are interested in this book, too. This is to remind myself: ask them if they've already read the book, when I'm ready with this.

This book was a disappointment for me, because I had high expectations before reading this! I couldn't concentrate on the story very much, and the writing style annoyed me from the beginning. It wasn't genuine, and I found it calculating. I felt reading this like a struggle - and I must admit I gave up before the end. I couldn't help comparing this book with some more touching books dealing with Nazi Germany and jews - I've read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas recently, and I really loved that one, for example!
I'm really interested to read journal entries about this book later, because I know, that this book has received lots of praises from some other readers. Next I'll offer it to Tarna, who reserved this book last summer.

Took the book in our meet-up since Tarna wasn't there. I'm interested to see what this book is liked, it has been talked about so much.

How is it possible, that a book about this topic, which is narrated by Death itself, can be this dull? Just blah blah blah, and the writing style sure is annoying, if quick to read. Sorry, but I can't finish this either. It'll go to Tarna next, sometime in the beginning of the new year.

Ouch! 554 pages. And I believe anything worth saying should be said in less than 350 pages...
However, I promise to give Markus Zusak and The Book Thief a chance to impress me. :) Thanks, lukutuoli & Kemppu!

P.S. Just read the previous journal entries. Those reviews make me a bit curious. ;)

I started to read The Book Thief some four years ago and enjoyed it immensely but then dropped out for some more urgent reading. Still, the book stayed in my mind all this time. Finally, I decided it’s time to finish it.
After rereading journals entries above, I beg to differ with my fellow BC’ers. I truly liked this story, liked it a lot. Admittedly, I did have some difficulties in getting inside the story during my second read but, once again, the story took me with it.
Zusak made a great decision when choosing the omniscient narrator. Death can go – and goes – everywhere and knows everyone, (s)he’s not just some nameless narrator, (s)he has a role in the story. The Book Thief is considered to be suitable for children/teens/young adults and grown-ups. I think it is his writing style that makes the book suitable also for kids.
One of the things I really loved in this book is that it tells about ordinary German people during WWII. I didn’t find it a Holocaust novel at all. Had I thought so, I probably hadn’t read it.
As for the ‘calculating’ style, I must ask which contemporary book has been done without calculating. Writers are educated professionals with remarkable toolkits. They master different techniques, styles etc. and use them knowingly. They do calculate, and so do their publishers. And calculating or not, there were one or two scenes that really touched me. I must say I’m so happy to disagree with the previous readers. Thank you for sharing this book with me!


Since Kirjavaras (Finnish translation of The Book Thief) was one of the books in the first Palkintokaappi (‘Trophy Cabinet’, award-winning/nominated books VBB), I’ve listed at least some of the prizes/nominations:
* ALA Best Books for Young Adults
* Book Sense Book of the Year
* Booklist Children Editors’ Choice
* Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book
* Commonwealth Writers Prize, Best Book (South East Asia & South Pacific)
* Daniel Elliott Peace Award
* Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis
* Horn Book Fanfare
* IBBY Australia Ena Noel Encouragement Award for Children’s Literature
* Kathleen Mitchell Award
* Kirkus Reviews Editor Choice Award
* Michael L. Prinz Honor Book
* National Jewish Book Award (NJBA) for Children’s and Young Adults’ Literature
* Pacific Northwest Young Readers Choice Master List
* Publishers Weekly Best Children Book of the Year
* School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

Markus Zusak at the Random House site
Markus Zusak Biography at Chicago Public Library
Markus Zusak at Wikipedia
Why I write: Markus Zusak at The Guardian
Interview with Markus Zusak, Author of The Book Thief and I Am the Messenger at Mother-Daughter Book Club site
The Book Thief in Wikipedia
Fighting for Their Lives at The New York Times

Vaihtotorille


TO THE FINDER:

Thank you for catching this book and coming here to see its journal!
To me, it’s important to be sure this book is in (your!) good hands. Please, let me know that you’ve found it. I’m also interested to know what you thought of it. That’s why I ask you to re-visit the site and make another journal entry sharing your thoughts and maybe telling what kind of plans you have for it.

BookCrossing site is now multilingual. If you wish to change the language, you can do it in the drop-down menu at the green bar above (next to the yellow Go-button).
If you are new to BookCrossing, stay the site a bit longer and enjoy it. You’re more than welcome to join the fun and become a member.

HAPPY READING!
LÖYTÄJÄLLE:

Kiitos, että nappasit tämän kirjan mukaasi ja tulit vielä vilkaisemaan sen matkapäiväkirjaa!
Tieto siitä, että kirja on hyvissä käsissä, on minulle tärkeä. Siksi pyydän sinua kertomaan, että se on sinulla. Toivon myös, että luettuasi kirjan poikkeat täällä uudestaan ja kirjoitat mietteitäsi lukemastasi. Sinun mielipiteesi kiinnostaa minua. :) Samalla voit myös kertoa mahdollisista jatkosuunnitelmistasi kirjan varalle.

Jää ihmeessä vielä hetkeksi ja tutustu BookCrossingiin. Sivustolla on useita kielivaihtoehtoja, mm. suomi. Kielen voit vaihtaa vihreässä yläpalkissa keltaisen Go-nappulan oikealla puolella olevan pudotusvalikon avulla.
Jos olet kiinnostunut BookCrossingista, ja haluaisit tutustua siihen suomen kielellä, kurkkaapa myös näiden linkkien taakse:
* suomenkielinen keskustelufoorumi http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/30
* suomalainen Wikipedia-artikkeli BookCrossingista osoitteessa http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookcrossing
Jos harrastuksemme kiinnostaa sinua, liity toki jäseneksi. Olet tervetullut mukaan joukkoomme nyt tai myöhemmin.

LUKUILOA!!!