The Verdict is in, the Book Thief takes the win.

I have completed, with great disappointment (often when I finish a book I feel somewhat bereaved), the Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

It has been a long time since I have stumbled across a book that strikes me as being as unique as this book has.

The Book Thief is not the first book I have read set in War Time Germany; 1931 - 1945, however, this book took a rather different perspective of the time. While the book has a more predominant German landscape on the War and the World at the time there is defined beauty in the view.  

Narrated thoroughly by an unusual yet surprisingly lovable character the book leads us into the life and trials of foster child; Leisel Meminger. We meet Leisel as she parts ways with her birth family and travels on to a small town on the outskirts of Munich. Her foster parents, both prove to have extreme generosity of the human spirit, something that was not only rare but hidden at the time. We also meet various friends along the journey, a long time love and a hidden Jew.

The characters for me were hit and miss, some, for example 'Papa' Hans Hubermann was scripted beautifully and his image in my minds eye is clear and focused. Surprisingly the character of Leisel is slight blurred on the edges and while I can see her thoughts, her love and her purpose in the pages, her image is not so easily concocted.

While i found some weakness in the text I do believe the book overall is a beautiful read. The use of symbolism and iconography, so perfectly executed as well as the eternally important subject matter makes this novel so compelling.

The Holocaust is something that must be remembered in order to prevent its recurrence, this book takes away the weak and dying image that is so prominent of the time and replaces it with a man who is willing to Box the Fuhrer to his dying breathe, Germans who will feed the suffering - despite the adverse affects to their own quality of life and reminds us all that at the end of the day we are all human and we will all eventually meet the same end.

I not only implore you to go and pick up a copy of this book but also take a further look into The Holocaust. I have been able, during my travels, to visit some of the worlds best Holocaust Memorial Museums as well as some of the remaining Concentration Camps. The stories are often crippling and often inspiring but more than anything they are educational. In a world where history is scheduled to repeat itself, we cannot avoid the fact that Genocide has and continues to happen but we can look at ways that we might prevent it happening in the future.

Other Holocaust Books worth a read are:
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally
Night by Ellie Wiesel
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
Escape from Sobibor by Richard L Rashke

also worth a read.... Mein Kampf (My Struggle) by Adolf Hitler

An excerpt from the Book Thief on the night of the Book Burning, May 10, 1933
"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. Sandcastles, houses of cards, that's where they being. Their great skill is their capacity to escalate."

Happy reading everyone! I start my next read today, Jodi Picoult's -  'The Perfect Match'.

Lexie

12 July 2012

Alcoholic Units - 0 (v.v.g), Cigarettes - 0 (v.g), Calories - 1million, approx.

I have finished reading Bridgit Jones's Diary and after many tears of laughter, flocks of excitement butterflies, minutes cringing through frustration and second hand embarrassment, I believe that women globally can relate to the leading lady.

Even though I am no long desperate single girl who fears life alone will end by being eaten by Alsatian's, it was not so long ago that I cannot recall the feelings and fears that Fielding elaborates on so eloquently and humorously in this book.

While there are many authors out there that create these energetic and enjoyable "chick-lit" style books, few manage to create the feeling of ownership that Fielding does and when reading certain passages about inappropriate knickers or that irritating co-worker, you cannot help but think the book is about you.

What did you guys think of Bridgit Jones's Diary? Did you think the movie did it justice? Was Hugh Grant the perfect Daniel and did Colin Firth fit the role of Mark Darcy?

I have since moved on to The Book Thief and am thoroughly enjoying it thus far, I am reluctant to start a conversation regarding the book as a whole as of yet but am looking forward to the discussions this book will lead to.

Keep posted to share your current reads and try to read along with some of the up and coming books I am going to be getting through, it is always enjoyable to share reading experiences.

Happy Reading Y'all

Lexie

Upcoming Reads!!!

Hello fellow readers. I have put together a little list of the upcoming books I will be reading, if you wanna also pick up a copy of one or some of these books we can get a bit of a discussion happening.

I am currently reading Bridget Jones's by Helen Fielding. Published in 1996 the book went on to become a movie.  I am thoroughly enjoying this read if for no other reason than that the laughter it inspires. If you haven't read it, I recommend you pick up a copy and enjoy a good giggle.

Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding 

Is the devastatingly self-aware, laugh-out-loud account of a year in the life of a thirty-something Singleton on a permanent doomed quest for self-improvement. Caught between the joys of Singleton fun, and the fear of dying alone and being found three weeks later half eaten by an Alsatian; tortured by Smug Married friends asking, "How's your love life?" with lascivious, yet patronizing leers, Bridget resolves to: reduce the circumference of each thigh by 1.5 inches, visit the gym three times a week not just to buy a sandwich, form a functional relationship with a responsible adult and learn to program the VCR. With a blend of flighty charm, existential gloom, and endearing self-deprecation, Bridget Jones's Diary has touched a raw nerve with millions of readers the world round. Read it and laugh--before you cry, "Bridget Jones is me!" *

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .
Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau. This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul. *
The Perfect Match - Jodi Picoult
In the course of her everyday work, career-driven assistant district attorney Nina Frost prosecutes child molesters and works determinedly to ensure that a legal system with too many loopholes keeps these criminals behind bars. But when her own five-year-old son, Nathaniel, is traumatized by a sexual assault, Nina and her husband, Caleb, a quiet and methodical stone mason, are shattered, ripped apart by an enraging sense of helplessness in the face of a futile justice system that Nina knows all too well. In a heartbeat, Nina's absolute truths and convictions are turned upside down, and she hurtles toward a plan to exact her own justice for her son -- no matter the consequence, whatever the sacrifice. *

* Blurbs from Amazon.com

Happy reading everyone, as always send through and recommended reads or feedback on books.

Lex

Hey guys,

Just a quick post to let you know that Jodi Picoult is doing a book tour of Australia in the coming weeks. I am off to see her on the 24th.

Her daughter is going to be with her and together they are promoting their new book 'Between the Lines'.

If you are interested in seeing Jodi just go to her webpage and check out her event dates. http://www.jodipicoult.com.au/

I will of course blog about the experience after the signing.

Also for those of you interested in jumping on the group reading wagon I am going to start reading a new book this Thursday and suggestions are appreciated.

Happy Reading!
Lex