The Book Thief
At the end of this novel, much the same as the narrator himself when he tells how he is "haunted by humans'', you will find yourself plagued by the heart-wrenching end to the tale of The Book Thief.
Having recently completed my reading of The Book Thief by Markus Zusack, my review is raw and honest regarding my immediate thoughts of the overall story. Upon reflection, my analysis dictates the book to be quite slow-paced and requiring of investment; as a result, you find yourself picking it up and putting it down for weeks on end - if you're like me of course.
How are the characters?
The characters are vibrant without a blatant depth until reflection in which you realise the extent of their respective journeys. Whilst they do not undergo the standard character growth and development, they certainly experience their own challenges and evolutions. In terms of diversity, in my eyes and analysis these characters possess a unique sense of diversity in the way they individually navigate their different life stages and situations, with society treating each cast member specifically in reaction to their status.
Our protagonist, Leisel Meminger, and her partner in - quite literal - crime are detailed while they mature and develop as adolescents in Nazi Germany; we see them attending school and the Hitler youth and the subsequent effect both have on them. We see them submissively following along with the German adults teaching to them the importance of loyalty to their leader and the following downfall of this blind allegiance as they realise the effects of the actions from a leader they have so loyally followed. For Leisel, an imperative factor within her journey is the role of her Patriarch, Hans Hubermann. It is through Hans - 'Papa' - that she becomes aware of the pushback the anti-Semetic Nazi views face as Papa possesses active disapproval over the treatment of Jewish citizens in Germany, going so far as to offer sanctuary to Max, a Jewish man whose Father had saved Hans in the Great War. Going into the novel and being aware of Max's presence in the story, my expectations were imagining this scenario to be the focal point of the work however, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Zusak delves deeper than this in the story. Max, while still being a prominent figure within the story - and, subjectively, one of the greatest opportunities for emotional storytelling - is not the overshadowing plot point but instead this position is expertly filled by Leisel and her life on Himmel as a whole.
Impulsively I have an urge to argue that not a single character within The Book Thief doesn't shine in their own right and this may well ring true after a break away from the book. If this sentiment proves to be just that then I'll be content. However, if it turns out to be a spur-of-the-moment act of impulse gushing in the aftermath of the epilogue, I can stand by this: From Papa's "idiotic" heart of gold to Max's basement fist fights against the führer to Rudy's Himmel street antics and cheeky attitude to Rosa's flexibility to lovingly dub anyone a Saukerl and of course, the book thief herself observing and recording it all, every one of the main cast is dynamic, intriguing, vibrant and memorable. After all, I am now haunted by these fascinating humans and the novel that brought them to life, The Book Thief.