Comments on: Book Club: The Book Thief

By: Writers in conversation at The Crafty Writer

Writers in conversation at The Crafty Writer — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:52:59 +0000

[...] an email conversation between Markus Zusak, whose book The Book Thief was recently featured in our Book Club, and non-fiction history writer Susan Campbell Bartoletti, author of Hitler Youth. It makes [...]

By: Fiona Veitch Smith

Fiona Veitch Smith — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:01:19 +0000

Hi Sue, good to hear from someone who didn’t like it! Yes, having Death flash forward all the time and spoil the end was a big gamble for the author. With you, it obviously didn’t pay off. The next book, An Interpretation of Murder, keeps the end hidden until the end!

By: Sue B

Sue B — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 10:53:07 +0000

Hi Fiona despite the many people who love this book I have found it a bit of a struggle. It is not really my cup of tea.

Some bits were really enjoyable and I found myself racing along only to be pulled up by the intrusive and unbelievable comments of the character Death. I found the character Death especially annoying when he casually gave bits of the future plot away.

It did tackle an interesting subject as I have to confess I was previously unaware of the book burnings.

By: Fiona

Fiona — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:48:18 +0000

Hi Karen, glad you could join us. Poor you having to read Da Vinci Code after that!!!!!!! I hope you can join us on the next book club - The Interpretation of Murder.

By: Karen Hall

Karen Hall — Tue, 20 May 2008 10:22:42 +0000

I came across the book reviews by chance after looking elsewhere on your blog but was attracted by The Book Thief. I read this about a year ago when I was working at Borders and it left a huge impression on me. The next book I read seemed like total tripe in comparison (but then again it was the Da Vinci Code!). Book Thief I liked so much that when Borders were selling it at half price I bought 2 so that I had one copy for myself and one to loan to people.

By: Book burnings at The Crafty Writer

Book burnings at The Crafty Writer — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:07:44 +0000

[...] Contact « Book Club: The Book Thief [...]

By: Fiona Veitch Smith

Fiona Veitch Smith — Sun, 11 May 2008 09:37:32 +0000

Hi Dave,

Interestingly, I heard a news bulletin yesterday that it’s the 75th anniversary of the book burnings in Germany yesterday. Reminded me of that scene in The Book Thief. Check it out, there’s ‘live footage’ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7393606.stm

By: Dave McColl

Dave McColl — Sat, 10 May 2008 11:09:36 +0000

When an author is motivated by a need to ’set the record straight’ what might the dangers be? Do you see any of this in The Book Thief?

I think there is a danger of giving a single viewpoint. Aren’t there pressures to keep to the politically correct viewpoint. Is this present in The Book Thief? Well, who many saw a book set in Nazi Germany and thought they knew what one of the storylines or themes many be? Nonetheless, this unusual book was excellent and I enjoyed it.

Dave

By: Julie Compton

Julie Compton — Thu, 08 May 2008 02:58:19 +0000

No, I think she understood. She’s pretty savvy, and she reads at a very high level. Generally, she’ll ask me about things if there’s something she doesn’t understand.

By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:21:21 +0000

Hi Fiona,

I’m sorry to hear you had been ill.
I wondered what had happened to the bookclub and thought that perhaps you hadn’t had enough response to justify the work involved.

I already have the book but haven’t read it yet. I will start reading it tonight.

Sue B