Markus Zusak - The Book Thief

Wow. I don't think I've read a book quite like this one before. While I didn't mind Death narrating the story, I did find the constant interruptions rather annoying at times. I felt they disrupted the flow of the story and although they did contain useful information, they were more irritating than anything else, especially so at the beginning at the book. Nevertheless, these were minor things and did not take away from the brilliance of this novel. While the writing may be simple and plain, it paints incredibly vivid images. I loved the characters and I felt that the emotions they experienced during such a tumultuous time -- joy; anger; pain; love; and suffering -- really came through in Zusak's tale. Although the ending brought me to tears, ultimately I believe this story is about hope and courage despite such horrific and tragic circumstances. I hope this message stays with all readers for a very long time.