The Book Thief - Review

I finished the Book Thief a few weeks ago and I must say it was a page turner! Marcus Zusak managed to create a novel brimful of heart warming innocence, compelling characters and an insight into Nazi Germany. The tale is narrated by Death, and you might ask how is a story told by death written for young adults? Well in this novel Death is no Grim Reaper, but a gentler version who feels sorry for what he has to do.

Character - The heroin of the story, a young girl called Liesel, has been left in foster care by her mother and has just witnessed her brother's death. A great deal has been taken from her and almost to settle the score she steals books. The story continues with her life with her new foster family in a small German village, how she forms a relationship with a Jew in hiding and her connection with books and words.
Liesel is an identifiable character, with an innocence that brought me back to my days as a child. She has a very simplistic view on life, and yet she is also three dimensional, with many different sides to her personality. Her compassion for those in need is strong, and we see this when she does her best to help the suffering Jews by giving them bread. It is acts of defiance like these that make Liesel so likeable and unique, as she is righteous in her stance against what is wrong. I found her courage and determination admirable.

Cultural Context - The novel is set during the Second World War and gives us a valuable insight into Nazi Germany. Despite the scope of the events happening at that time, it could perhaps be said, that the world of the text is quite small as it’s written from a child’s perspective focusing solely on a single town, a single street and only a handful of characters. This seems to highlight the simple view of the world through a child’s eyes. Although we are shown the impact the war had on the lives of those living in Germany at the time, from men being sent to war and not returning, to the lack of food and rationing.
Most importantly, we learn of the suffering of the Jews when a Jewish refugee comes to hide in Liesels home. Building a strong relationship with Max opens Liesel’s eyes to the injustice around her and in turn the world of the text evolves giving us true insights into human cruelty, and the compassion of those trying to help those victims.

Style - The way the story is told is truly unique and Death's little anecdotes and soliloquies add a certain charm. It is a beautifully balanced piece of storytelling with glimpses of what is yet to come: sometimes misleading, sometimes all too true. It may be said that some events told by death before they happened spoiled it slightly, softening the blow as opposed to the impact it may have had, had it been unknowns to the reader . Personally I found this take original and refreshing; each chapter was unexpected as we were brought forward and backwards in time.
Zusak is most skilled at story-telling, in particular I am envious of the way he can create vivid images in my mind with apparent ease. His descriptions are very original, in particular those relating to characters. For instance Liesel’s foster mother is described as "like a small wardrobe with a coat thrown over it’’ and referred to as a ‘cardboard woman’. He uses metaphors freely, crafting them to his unique style. ‘The sky was the colour of Jews’.

Themes – One of the themes in this novel is Literature and the impact of words. Liesel is named the ‘Book Thief’ for a reason as she begins her love affair with books and words, when she steels her first book. She is illiterate to begin with, but with the help of her foster father and Jewish refugee Max, she begins to learn the power of words. It is hinted at through out the novel, particularly through Max’s allegorical story ‘The Word Shaker’, that words are at the route of Hitler’s power. This subtle message is another way of pointing out the propaganda that secured him position as dictator, and Liesel learns this through her understanding of the impact of words. I thought this theme was strongly developed, linking many events, and the love of literature was so evident that I felt it was written for those who understand the joys of books and words.

I loved this book, and it has to be said it achieves many moments of tear-jerking sentiment.
The ‘Book Thief’ is thought provoking, original and story-telling at its best.

Geography Project - (4) One Day - David Nicholls

David Nicholls was born in 1966, Hampshire, England. He is an author and screenplay writer an has written three novels, 'Starter for ten' , 'The Understudy' and 'One Day'.
'One Day' was published in 2009, and became a word of mouth sensation. Told entirely in the context of one day each year, the anniversary of their first meeting in 1988, this is the story of Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley. The pair become best friends post-college graduation and see each other through year after year of unrequited love, bad decisions and good fortune. It has unpredictable twists and is highly rated , with a large fan'base following.
It is currently a film in production starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. Some fans have voiced their displeasure at the casting of Anne Hathaway, as her accent seems unconvincing. It's being filmed in France, England and Scotland and is said to be released in the summer.

Geography Project - (3) Frank Beddor - The Looking Glass Wars

Frank Beddor was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is a former world champion skier, film producer, actor an author. Beddor is the CEO of the production company Automatic Pictures, and has produced 'There's Something about Mary' and 'Wicked'.
He is the author of the Looking Glass Wars trilogy, and also four spin-off graphic novels about Hatter Madigan.
The Looking Glass Wars is inspired by Lewis Carrol's 'Alice in Wonderland' and the premise is that the two books written by Lewis Carroll were, in the story, a distortion of the 'true events' portrayed in these novels. Alyss Heart, heir to the Wonderland throne, was forced to flee her world because of an invading army. Lost and alone in Victorian London, Alyss is befriended by an aspiring author to whom she tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life only to see it published as the nonsensical Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Beddor is currently working on producing a film of his trilogy.

Geography Project - (2) 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'

'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' was written by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, using the pen name Lewis Carrol. The story was created while on a rowing trip with a neighbouring family , the Liddells, and their children. Dodgson told the story of young Alice's adventures in Wonderland to amuse the children.
Some people say that the character Alice, was based on one of the children he was friends with, Alice Liddell. It is said that only after much begging from the children, did Dodgson actually develop the story more and type it up, sending it on to a publisher. John Tenniel illustrated all the characters for the book and it was published in 1865. It has remained popular with children and even adults as the tale plays with logic and can be used as a good example of literary nonsense.
The sequel to the book, 'Through the Looking Glass' was published six years later in 1871. The themes and settings for 'Through the looking Glass' make it kind of a mirror image of Alice in Wonderland, so that everything is in reverse.

Geography project - (1) Enid Blyton

Enid Mary Blyton was born in East Dulwich, London in 1897. She is one of the most successful children's authors in the world with her stories being translated into over 90 languages.
Enid Blyton became an English teacher for 5 years and then married Hugh Pollock in 1924. They had two children ,Gillian and Imogen, but they divorced in 1941. She re-married in 1943 and even changed her children's name to prevent any contact with her former husband. She became afflicted with Alzheimer's and died in 1968, aged 71.
Since her death and the publication of her daughter Imogen's biography 'A Childhood at Green Hedges', there has been much speculation over her personal life. She has been depicted as emotionally unstable and even malicious. Her daughter Imogen has been quoted saying "The truth is Enid Blyton was arrogant, insecure, pretentious, very skilled at putting difficult or unpleasant things out of her mind, and without a trace of maternal instinct. As a child, I viewed her as a rather strict authority. As an adult I pitied her."
Other negative views of her novels have been voiced by critics as too old-fashioned, portraying unsuitable stereotypes regarding gender,race and class. Some of her publications have been altered to suit the modern readers and what is considered politically correct.

Despite these views Blyton's work still remains very popular and is considered some of 'the classic' children's tales. Personaly I grew up reading Enid Blyton books all the time, and they were some of my favourite stories of all time. She can be known for her 'Famous Five', 'Secret Seven' and 'Mallory Towers' series. Also her stories for younger children like 'The faraway tree'.
A documentary of her life was made by the BBC last year, with well-known actress Helena Bonham Carter playing Blyton.