The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0375842209 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingdg7500wing of Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA on 1/16/2008
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
18 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingdg7500wing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA on Wednesday, January 16, 2008
From the cover:

"It's just a small story really, about, among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery..."

Journal Entry 2 by wingdg7500wing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA on Friday, January 18, 2008
7/6/07: By far the best book I've read so far this year. So well written, with wonderfully descriptive characters, and a haunting story that has left a huge impact on me. It brings home once again the power of words...the power to move a nation, or a solitary individual...for good or evil!!

I'm surprised that this is marketed as a young adult book, as I think it would be a bit much for a 'tween' to really absorb, but it should most definitely be required reading for middle school/high school age readers...and would be appreciated by adult readers as well.

Journal Entry 3 by wingdg7500wing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, January 21, 2008
***************************************
BOOKRING: Basic rules apply
***************************************

1. Journal the book when it arrives to you
2. Contact the next person on the list for mailing info (make sure addy hasn't changed, and that they are still willing/able to take the ring)
3. Please read the book within 4-6 weeks (contact me if for some reason you see there will be a delay - [email protected])
4. Make a journal entry to share your thoughts on the book
5. Make a journal entry when the book is on it's way to the next participant
6. Most importantly: have fun & enjoy the book!! :0)

*Starting it's journey 12/21/07*

Participants so far (order is subject to change):

1. Jessibud(Canada); US/CAN
2. pashmack(US-FL); US only
3. Guinneth(US-NH); US/willing anywhere
4. Hawkette(Australia); AUS/willing anywhere
5. Isabelopes(Portugal); EUR/willing anywhere
6. pipmts(Portugal); anywhere *book has been travelling 1 year*
~~~hippolein(Finland); EUR only asked to be skipped
7. BlackDevil(Finland); anywhere
~~~Wandering-B(HongKong); anywhere asked to be skipped
8. sarousse(France); anywhere
9. Carelaisa(Canada); US/CAN
~~~house-elf(Canada); US/CAN asked to be skipped
~~~LoriPed(US-OR); US/CAN asked to be skipped
10. HOME to dg7500(US)
====================================================================
ROUND 2 - *Starting it's journey 9/16/09*
====================================================================
11. JulesPaige(US-PA); US only
12. rooshill(US-CA); US only
13. denny08(US-NM); US only
~~~comradecamper(US-WI); asked to be skipped
14. ravencat(US-NY); willing anywhere
~~~Pajarito(Germany); asked to be skipped
15. nediamnori87(UK); UK only
16. bookowl1000(UK); UK/EUR only
17. shovelmonkey1(UK); willing anywhere
~~~bekoh(Australia); asked to be skipped
~~~keeta1(NZ); NZ preferred/willing anywhere
18. skokgitt(NZ); willing anywhere <==== Book is Here 6/27/10
~~~Jujuks(Portugal); asked to be skipped
-hyper7(S. Africa); willing anywhere

**HOME to dg7500(US-PA)

Journal Entry 4 by wingdg7500wing at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, January 25, 2008

Released 16 yrs ago (1/25/2008 UTC) at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Headed to jessibud in Canada for the first leg of it's journey. Happy tavels!

Journal Entry 5 by jessibud from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Friday, February 1, 2008
Of all days to even find any mail in my mailbox!! We are snowed in and I am home from school for the snow day. I would have bet money that Canada Post would use this as an excuse for not delivering the mail but I would have lost that bet! YAY!

Thanks, dg, I thnk I'll hunker down on the couch and start it right away. It's a hefty *little* book!

Journal Entry 6 by jessibud from Toronto, Ontario Canada on Monday, February 18, 2008
Well, I tried, I really did. I know that there has been nothing but high praise for this book but I just couldn't make it work for me. I made it as far as page 170 but I just wasn't enjoying it enough to push through. I did not like the writing style and format and I have decided to just concede defeat on this one and move it on.

I wanted to love this book, based on the high recommendations from people whose opinions I respect but sometimes, it just doesn't work out.

Sending it on to the next person in this bookring tomorrow


Journal Entry 7 by pashmack from Lake Worth, Florida USA on Monday, March 3, 2008
Arrived in today's mail. I'll get started on it today. Thanks, dg7500, for sharing, and thanks, jessibud, for sending! And now...off to find my reading glasses.

Journal Entry 8 by pashmack from Lake Worth, Florida USA on Friday, March 7, 2008
Well, I finished the book yesterday, but was a bit emotionally drained and couldn't think of what I wanted to say in my journal entry. I find that today I still can't really collect my thoughts as well as I'd like, but will try. At first I wasn't sure I was going to like the book - Death as a narrator took some getting used to. His voice was poetic and moving, but his unusual word combinations felt somewhat tedious at first. After a bit, though, I was hooked - totally drawn into life on Himmel Street and involved in the lives of Liesel, Hans, Rudy, Max, and Rosa (she really grows on you, doesn't she?) I think these characters will be with me for some time to come. Yes, I found myself tearing up during the last section. Prior to this one, the last book that made me cry was Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close- particularly the part about the boy's grandfather, a survivor of the Dresden bombing during WWII. I think I will read both of these books again some day.

Thanks, dg7500 for sharing the book. It was an excellent and unforgettable read.

Journal Entry 9 by Guinneth from Manchester, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, March 13, 2008
The book has arrived safely - thank you! I am about 1/3 of the way into another book (Middlesex, incidentally), so would like to finish that before starting this. Please let me know, dg, if that's a problem.

Journal Entry 10 by Guinneth from Manchester, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, March 27, 2008
My father in law died last week and with all the resulting events I sort of lost my reading time for a bit there. I'm going to start in on this today and finish Middlesex at a later time. Thanks for your patience, dg7500!

Journal Entry 11 by Guinneth from Manchester, New Hampshire USA on Wednesday, April 9, 2008
This book was devastating, and I can't get it out of my head. Beautiful and terrible, certain images from the story will stay burned into my brain for a long time to come, I'm sure. The characters, too, are unforgettable.

At first I found the narrative style awkward and tough to get into, but once the story got going that sense vanished. Really, who better to tell a story set in Nazi Germany than Death? I am *so* glad I kept reading. Zusak is a very talented writer, and it's fitting that one of the messages in this story is the power of words.

Thank you so much for sharing this book, dg7500. I will almost certainly be purchasing a copy to keep, as I want my sons to read it one day.

I already have Hawkette's address and will be mailing it off to her this morning. I wish it a safe journey across the ocean.

Journal Entry 12 by Hawkette from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Has arrived with me, rather early this morning with the Australia Post man personally delivering to my door at 7am - not sure that the early wake up call was really necessary!!!
Have heard wonderful things about this book!

Journal Entry 13 by Hawkette from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, July 5, 2008
I was totally enchanted by this book - that truely is the word. Narrated by Death, in a dry, matter of fact but witty voice, he guides us, tells us of his interest in the girl Leisel, and of his pain with WWII.

Leisel is also an enchanting character, right from the scene at the front gate. You love her instantly....and then love Hans and Max and Rudy, and even Rosa, through her.

Leisel's discovery, and love for words, and her little thieving trips, capture your heart, as a book lover.

Such an interesting look at Nazi Germany, felt different from others I have read. Easily my favourite read of 2008!

Thanks for your patience, dg, I have kept this longer than anticipated. Have the next address, and will be sending on this week.

Journal Entry 14 by Isabelopes from Cacém, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Monday, September 22, 2008
Just got it today. It looks really delicious but it still has to wait a little bit in my TBR pile. Thanks for sharing

Journal Entry 15 by Isabelopes from Cacém, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Couldn't make it to that Christmas Dinner after all. Sent today by mail to pipmts. Sorry for having kept this book for so long - wonderful story!

Journal Entry 16 by PiPmts from Lisboa (city), Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Monday, December 22, 2008
It has just arrived!:)
I'm with high expectations for this book! I'll start to read it today.
Thank you very much for the opportunity and Merry X'mas! *<:o)

Journal Entry 17 by PiPmts from Lisboa (city), Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Sunday, January 25, 2009
I loved this book, thank you so much for the opportunity of reading it!

I think all I could tell about this book was already said in the previous JE's, so I'll just add a thought: Think of all whose lives, during this period of history, were 1000 times worse than Liesel's!

I've PM'ed the next bookcrosser and will send the book as soon as I get the next address!

[Edit:] Bookcrosser hippolein apologizes but she has already read this book. I'll PM BlackDevil!

Journal Entry 18 by BlackDevil from Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The book has arrived safely at Nokia. :)

Journal Entry 19 by BlackDevil from Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Monday, April 6, 2009
Finally I'm able to get this book moving on! Sorry for keeping it overtime.

About the book then... Well, quite hard to say! As so many before me, I too found the book hard to get started and I moved on relatively slowly through the whole book, especially the first 150 pages or so. This was a lengthy book but when Death tells a story - you'd better listen. I tought of giving up several times, but I pushed through and even though I can not praise this book I still found it to be impressive in its own way. It was also a clever idea to use Death as a narrative. However, this book would have worked much better being about 200 pages shorter... The writer sure has a mind of a great storyteller but this is too slow paced and all those descriptive and poetic paths, though beautiful indeed, just can't keep the story going. (At times I felt like I was reading out a movie... I bet they are going to film this, I can not be the only one having this feeling! And well, I actually think this would work out better on film.) To me it seems that the writer has tried to be something more than he actually is able to. I'm sure he intended the writing style to be rich, poetic and "fine" but it just isn't. Simply it doesn't work. At times, it is almost un-readable and highly repetitive and thus irritating. Good story, badly executed.

I also wondered why so often the end of a chapter had to be revealed right at the beginning? It was a turn off at several points. And then finally, we just jump straight to the very end. I wished there would've been a paragraph or two about the book thief's later life before coming to the final end.

Though Death is present at all times as the whole story is told of his perspective, this book is still not a story of death and dying or bad things happening all the time... This is a story of hope, life, love and the power of written words. What a shame it was given out in this kind of a package that it was difficult for me to enjoy of it.

Journal Entry 20 by BlackDevil at Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (4/14/2009 UTC) at Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Pfffft.... Easter got my schedules mixed up, but today the book will continue its journey, this time towards France. :)

Journal Entry 21 by sarousse from Pontoise, Ile-de-France France on Saturday, April 18, 2009
The book has arrived safely. Thank you !

27.06.09 : I'm apologize for keeping this book so long but read English is a little hard for me. But I succeed in reading and I just adore this story... Thank you !!!!

Journal Entry 22 by carelaisa from Québec, Québec Canada on Tuesday, July 21, 2009
got it today! quite a big book but I'm looking forward to read it :)

thanks sarousse for sending it my way and for dg7500 for organizing this ring!

Journal Entry 23 by carelaisa from Québec, Québec Canada on Thursday, August 6, 2009
I really enjoyed this novel and what I found to be its main subject, the ability that books have to nurtured the spirit. I did find the book is a bit long but it reads quite well and before each part, we have an overview of what’s to be talked about, courtesy of the narrator itself! I can understand that some people don't like to be told what's ahead in the upcoming chapters but for myself, I liked it and it was a changed from all the other books I've read so far.

I have pmed house-elf for her address but she asked to be skipped as she has a lot of books to read. So I'll pm the next BCer for his/her address.

EDIT: LoriPed has already read the book. It means that the book will return home to dg7500 at last!

Journal Entry 24 by carelaisa from Québec, Québec Canada on Thursday, August 20, 2009
finally on its way to dg7500. I sent it air mail.

sorry for holding on to it a bit longer than expected, I just had been busy with work.

Journal Entry 25 by wingdg7500wing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA on Saturday, August 29, 2009
Arrived safely back home again! THANK YOU to everyone for participating, and making my very first bookring a success!

Journal Entry 26 by wingdg7500wing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA on Monday, September 7, 2009
This bookring is getting ready to start it's second round of travels.

***************************************
Basic rules apply
***************************************

1. Journal the book when it arrives to you
2. Contact the next person on the list for mailing info (make sure addy hasn't changed, and that they are still willing/able to take the ring)
3. Please read the book within 4-6 weeks (contact me if for some reason you see there will be a delay - [email protected])
4. Make a journal entry to share your thoughts on the book
5. Make a journal entry when the book is on it's way to the next participant
6. Most importantly: have fun & enjoy the book!! :0)

====================================================================
ROUND 2 - *Starting it's journey 9/16/09*
====================================================================
Participants so far (order is subject to change):

11. JulesPaige(US-PA); US only
12. rooshill(US-CA)); US only
13. denny08(US-NM)); US only
~~~comradecamper(US-WI); asked to be skipped
14. ravencat(US-NY); willing anywhere
~~~Pajarito(Germany); asked to be skipped
15. nediamnori87(UK); UK only
16. bookowl1000(UK); UK/EUR only
17. shovelmonkey1(UK); willing anywhere
~~~bekoh(Australia); asked to be skipped
~~~keeta1(NZ); NZ preferred/willing anywhere
18. skokgitt(NZ); willing anywhere <==== Book is Here 6/27/10
~~~Jujuks(Portugal); asked to be skipped
-hyper7(S. Africa); willing anywhere

**HOME to dg7500(US-PA)

Journal Entry 27 by JulesPaige from East Petersburg, Pennsylvania USA on Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Book Thief is in my hands 9/16/2009. I have read some of the reviews, positive and negative. Being a creative writer/poet I am enchanted, at least by the first 15 pages that I have read so far...

Journal Entry 28 by JulesPaige from East Petersburg, Pennsylvania USA on Thursday, September 24, 2009
(SJ)

Review K-1

You would like to think
That some fictional characters lived
Even after their suffering -
Whispered through words you can hear, creating touchable
Colors, having breath you could smell and taste

You would like to think
That the dangling unanswered questions
Might be fruit for another book
The one you will imagine ends
With healing hearts and happiness

You would like to think
That some could forget -
But pain needs to be remembered
So one can remember how to live -
so here are a few words to remember...

You would like to think
that there is more kindness than naught -
Even when soldiers are sent to wars far from home
Because some people have forgotten how to cry
Or perhaps though they had never learned...

I enjoyed The Book Thief. On to the next reader this weekend.

Journal Entry 29 by rooshill from Grass Valley, California USA on Sunday, November 1, 2009
I'm tardy in journalling, and I apologize. Health-related family emergencies have derailed recreational pursuits for the past several weeks.
This is in line behind another ring that I'm just starting, but I can hardly wait to get into this.

Journal Entry 30 by rooshill from Grass Valley, California USA on Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Another great read from Mr. Zusak.
I'm still feeling emotionally drained after finishing it last night.
This is one of those stories that my friend would term 'self-mutilation for the soul' It hurts but you just can't stop reading it.

Journal Entry 31 by denny08 from El Paso, Texas USA on Saturday, December 5, 2009
Received this in the mail today. It will be next up after I finish Sick Puppy by Carl Hiassen.

Journal Entry 32 by denny08 from El Paso, Texas USA on Sunday, January 3, 2010
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more from Markus Zusak. I am sending it on to ravencat this week.

Thank you for sharing!

Journal Entry 33 by ravencat from Lancaster, New York USA on Thursday, January 14, 2010
Arrived today and will be added to Mt.TBR

Journal Entry 34 by ravencat from Lancaster, New York USA on Saturday, January 30, 2010
I absolutely loved this book! What more can I say!! Narrated by Death,it tells a remarkable and fascinating story of young Lisel and how her life is affected by Nazi Germany. I have nediamnori87 address (Pajarito asked to be skipped)and will mail out around February 8 when I return from vacation.
















Journal Entry 35 by ravencat at Hendersonville, Tennessee USA on Monday, February 8, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (2/8/2010 UTC) at Hendersonville, Tennessee USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to nediamnori87 in the UK via US international mail.

Journal Entry 36 by nediamnori87 from St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, February 17, 2010
arrived today have a few more ring books on my pile but should get around to it soon.

Journal Entry 37 by nediamnori87 from St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, February 22, 2010
Wow,

I don't really know what more I can say. I was looking forward to reading this book just on it's unique perspective but didn't expect to be quite as involved with it as I was by the end. I honestly can't remember when a book made me cry but this one had me choking up by the end of it, despite the fact that the end is revealed or at least parts of it well before time. I can't even begin to describe the book I really enjoyed the writing style and all the extra well thought out bits like the story book that Max had written that were added to the book. You could even see bits of Mein Kampf on these pages which just added all that bit more reality to the whole thing. I can definately see why this should be a must read for everyone. I'm actually going to have to go out and look for my own copy of this now so that I can read it again at a later date!

Thank you very much for sharing.

Journal Entry 38 by nediamnori87 at St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (2/23/2010 UTC) at St Andrews, Scotland United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to the next reader

Journal Entry 39 by bookowl1000 from Wuhan, Hubei China on Friday, February 26, 2010
The book has safely arrived here in Chepstow. It is good timing as I was just about to browse my bookshelves to chose my next book to read.

Journal Entry 40 by bookowl1000 from Wuhan, Hubei China on Sunday, March 7, 2010
I was not sure how this story would work with death as a narrator but it did. I found the style a bit disconcerting at first as it was so different to what I normally read, which meant at first I was reading it slower than I would normally read a book. I then started to enjoy the short descriptions that set a scene, and the introduction to each chapter; I found myself wanting to find out what the collection of words meant.

To me the story shows how there is suffering on all sides during a war and that there can be beautiful examples of humanity even within the horrors of war, and example being the teddy bear.

Thanks for sharing, I am glad that I read it. Even though this has often been marketed as a childrens/young adults book I did not feel that I was reading a childrens book and was not surprised to find out that it was originally intended and published in Zusak's native Australia specifically for adults.

Journal Entry 41 by bookowl1000 at Chepstow, Wales United Kingdom on Sunday, March 7, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (3/8/2010 UTC) at Chepstow, Wales United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Off to shovelmonkey1.

Journal Entry 42 by shovelmonkey1 from Crystal Palace, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Hello this book arrived today so thanks for sending it on! Thanks also to dg7500 for including me in this ring. I am looking forward to reading this although i have to say (at the risk of sounding a misery - sorry) that i really wish that someone had mentioned it was a hard back as i would have not volunteered international posting if I'd know that as it is so prohibitively expensive. Now got to get it to New Zealand. Eek!

Journal Entry 43 by shovelmonkey1 from Crystal Palace, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Started reading this morning on the train...

Journal Entry 44 by shovelmonkey1 from Crystal Palace, Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, April 11, 2010
I've been reading this book on and off for the last two weeks. I kept picking it up and putting it down because it didn't really enchant, move or draw me in the way it seems to have done with other readers. I was looking forward to reading it because it is one of those books which i've seen a lot of other people reading so that made me curious about it. Nice story, interesting and appropriate that it was narrated by death but generally i felt unmoved and uninspired.

Thanks for sharing this book. It is now available and waiting for the address from the next reader so that it can move on again soon.

Released 13 yrs ago (4/17/2010 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book is now travelling on to the next reader in New Zealand. Happy reading.

Journal Entry 46 by skokgitt at Waihi, Waikato-Coromandel New Zealand on Monday, June 28, 2010
This book arrived safely in New Zealand today, many thanks to shovelmonkey 1. I think it must have come by sea mail, it has taken quite awhile to get here. Will put my current book aside in order to get this read and on its way as quickly as possible.

Journal Entry 47 by skokgitt at Waihi, Waikato-Coromandel New Zealand on Wednesday, July 28, 2010
I have to agree with shovelmonkey on this one, could not get interested enough to finish it, but hey, if you don't try new authors you could miss out on something wonderful. This book is now on its way back to dg7500 with many thanks for including me in this book ring.

Journal Entry 48 by wingdg7500wing at Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA on Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Returned home again safe & sound...and still in great condition considering it's been out on 2 international journeys so far. I think a brief rest period is in order, and then perhaps another bookring...or a rabck.

Thanks to everyone for safe journeys...hope you all enjoyed participating.

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