The Book Thief

Markus Zusak

Leisel Meminger is a young girl being raised in a Munich suburb by her foster parents in the early 1940's. As she grows up, she learns about Germany through her new family, friends, and life in the town. The fact that she steals books seems like a plot device that was invented (somehow not integral to the identity of the characters). What is particularly interesting is that this book has not antagonist. All the characters are protagonists. It is one big happy support group... with the exception of the Fuhrer of course. So with just the idea of Hitler as an ever-present, domineering character, Zusak can completely avoid writing in specific characters to dislike. All conflict and tension comes directly from a character that is not really even in the book. I suppose this is a modern Anne Frank, which is strange to say since the timing of the books is identical. But this book feels more modern somehow. Perhaps is it the "Grimm Reaper as blogger" feel that the narrator uses (which turned me off initially nearly terminated my interest). I would say this is an average book, but you can read it quickly and I think it does give a glimpse of life in "normal Germany" where the average people lived during the war.
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