"When she came to write her story, she would wonder exactly when the books and the words started to mean not just something, but everything." -page 30
"She was a girl. In Nazi Germany.
How fitting that she was discovering the power of words." -page 147
There is a comfort in books, words, and the characters within those words, that nothing can compare to. Words can numb your mind to the reality of existence or open your eyes to the parts of reality you failed to notice before. Words can start wars, and they can end them. Words can break things, and they can put things back together. Words can shape lives. Even on the brink of war, Liesel discovers that words can create peace. Growing up in a world that is full of hate, she is drawn to the peace and love and clarity that words can make someone feel. But she is also drawn to the dangerous adventure of actually stealing the books. Liesel's living an adventure story all her own.
One thing I love about The Book Thief is that it makes me, as a reader, forget I'm actually reading and instead I feel like I'm living with Liesel. Some books are a hassle to read, because it feels like I have to work to enjoy the story. Reading The Book Thief is like stepping into a completely different world. When I stop reading, it sticks with me. When I learn a lesson in a book, that lesson tends to stay with me in real life. Books can teach you lots of things if you let them.
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