Welcome to To Be Honest, HBT where I use my favorite quotes from a recent book I’ve read, categorize them, and explain my thoughts on the book as a whole.
This week I’m discussing The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.
Literary Gems: I’m always impressed with creative descriptions. Zusak has a few great ones and some very simple, but true descriptions that are just a delight to read.
6
“It felt as though the whole globe was dressed in snow. Like it had pulled it on, the way you pull on a sweater. Next to the train line, footprints were sunken to their shins. Trees wore blankets of ice.”
22
“An Observation
A pair of train guards.
A pair of grave diggers.
When it came down to it, one of them called the shots.
The other did what he was told.
The questions is, what if the other is a lot more than one?”
— This, to me, is obviously commentary on the Nazi party. It is done well without beating us over the head with it. The common excuse was ‘I was just following orders’ which brings about the question of one’s responsibility to do the right thing even if they are risking their lives. Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” This is one of my favorite quotes and motivates me often. Zusak believes this as well based on the actions of Leisel and her adoptive parents.
193
“Isaac stood and walked to the door. The wood was alive, still humming from the beating it had just been given.”
151
Berg looked at her. “I don’t recall asking for your opinion.” He was teenage tall and had a long neck. Pimples were gathered in peer groups on his face.
— I don’t often see the word peer in a descriptive sense, but it is wonderfully done here.
Learned Something: Zusak taught me some German curses I never thought I’d learn.
32
“In the beginning, it was the profanity that made an immediate impact. It was so vehement and prolific. Every second word was either Saumensch or Saukerl or Arsloch. For people who aren’t familiar with these words, I should explai. Sau of course, refers to pigs. In the case of Saumensch, it serves to castigate, berate, or plain humiliate a female. Saukerl (pronounced “suakairl”) is for a male. Arsloch can be translated directly into “asshole.” That word, however, does not differentiate between the sexes, It simply is.”
–See above. Ha!
294
erdapfel literally means earth apples which is the German word for potatoes. I find this fun because in Hebrew and in French it is also described this way. In Hebrew it is Tapuach (apple) Adamah (earth) and in French it is pomme de terre, apple of the ground.
#truth: Just simple truths described in the course of the novel without being patronizing.
37
“ A definition not found in the dictionary Not leaving: an act of trust and love, often deciphered by children”
–Zusak’s little asides are just fun. This is one of those simple statements that are more profound than they seem.
60-1
“This time, Mr. Steiner placed his hand on Rudy’s head and explained, “I know, son- but you’ve got beautiful blond hair and big, safe blue eyes. You should be happy with that; is that clear?”
–Key word here is safe. Lovely.
85
“She loved and hated her best friend, Rudy Steiner, which was perfectly normal.”
-This is wonderful on it’s own, but in comparison to her Mama it’s also very cute as she seems to operate in a similar manner. She doesn’t rally hate her husband.
109
“Although something inside told her that this was a crime- after all, her three books were the most precious items she owned- she was compelled to see the thing lit. She couldn’t help it. I guess humans like to watch a little destruction. Sand castles, houses of cards, that’s where they begin. Their great skill is their capacity to escalate.”
–I just love the exposition here. I also sheepishly now realized the meaning behind the title of the Netflix show House of Cards. Is escalate used here just in the sense of increasing the intensity of the destruction or also escalate as is in building and therefor humans’ great skill is that they rebuild from destruction?
Homework: Sometimes there are references that I want to look up, but don’t do so while reading.
142
The Shoulder Shrug
–This does not seem to be a real book based on the first page of results on Google. Unfortunate. I would have wanted to read it.
147
She was a girl.
In Nazi Germany.
How fitting that she was discovering the power of words.
–I wonder if this was one of Zusak’s main motivations to use the main character’s favorite hobby as a very strong parallel to Hitler’s rise to power? It is effective and, once again, not overdone. It is easy for me to get emotional about fictional stories revolving around the Holocaust because there is so much truth to them, but overall this novel showed me another side. It is more cerebral even if it is very emotional. While I obviously feared for the Jewish character of Max, this other point of view of regular civilian Germans who could not support the Nazi’s actions was heartbreaking as well. It was a relief to see humanity in German characters, it was refreshing, and aroused a needed sympathy. I find that when your expectations are reversed your feelings are heightened. We usually expect to dislike the Germans in Nazi stories, and even though from the beginning of this novel you know you will like this family, it is still a very pleasant feeling to be able to root for them and support their decisions. Instead of simply liking these characters, I love them and feel their suffering greatly. They are casualties of the war as well.
READ MORE FOR JUST FUNNY, EMOTIONAL BITS, AND FINAL THOUGHTS.
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