Entry One - July 7th (Summer Reading)
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
She lived in Munich, Germany. Around 1933. Most of us know what was happening during that time. Adolf Hitler, Nazism and of course World War 11. The Book Thief focuses on the Germans' point of view particularly the Hubermann family and their foster child, Liesel Meminger. The book is written in Liesel's perspective. She came from a very poor family. Her father died when she was very little and her brother died a short while before she arrived in Munich. Her mother gave her up and Hans and Rosa Hubermann took her in.
One of Liesels' main goals throughout the book is to be able to read. When her brother died a couple months before arrived she had found a book called, The Grave Digger's Handbook, that someone had accidentally dropped. She is so passionate the entire book about books and words and learning. That was her last memory of her brother and Liesel was determined to one day read it. This was her first act of book thievery. She is now looked at by the author as The Book Thief.
With help from her foster father, Hans Hubermann (which she calls papa), she reaches that hard to reach goal. Her papa was a very significant person in her life in Munich, Germany. Hans is there with her every step of the way. She can always rely on him.
One of the most important characters that shows up later in the book (more toward the middle) is Max Vandenberg. The Hubermann household is Max's "safe haven". Hans was in the military with Max's father. Max is a twenty four year old who has been in hiding for the past year. Finally a friend gave him an offer. It was to find Hans Hubermann lived. He had already agreed to hide and protect him as much as he possibly can. Do you think Max Vandenberg will be safe at the Hubermann house? If so, what do you think the family will do to help keep him protected and hidden?
Throughout this novel I realized that this book is very different in which case it is from the perspective of a German family who does not particularly agree with the government at the time of World War 11. So many novels based in this time are from the Jewish perspective or the German's that agree with Hitler and his ways. The Book Thief is different and very unique in that way. We as Americans stereo-type the Germans saying they were all on Hitler's side. When it was not like that. A lot of Germans felt like the Hubermann family they just did not have a choice and had to do what Hitler told them to do.
While reading I was inspired by Liesel's passion about learning and just reading in general. I had to ask myself "What is the one thing that I am that passionate about?" What are you passionate about?
One of Liesels' main goals throughout the book is to be able to read. When her brother died a couple months before arrived she had found a book called, The Grave Digger's Handbook, that someone had accidentally dropped. She is so passionate the entire book about books and words and learning. That was her last memory of her brother and Liesel was determined to one day read it. This was her first act of book thievery. She is now looked at by the author as The Book Thief.
With help from her foster father, Hans Hubermann (which she calls papa), she reaches that hard to reach goal. Her papa was a very significant person in her life in Munich, Germany. Hans is there with her every step of the way. She can always rely on him.
One of the most important characters that shows up later in the book (more toward the middle) is Max Vandenberg. The Hubermann household is Max's "safe haven". Hans was in the military with Max's father. Max is a twenty four year old who has been in hiding for the past year. Finally a friend gave him an offer. It was to find Hans Hubermann lived. He had already agreed to hide and protect him as much as he possibly can. Do you think Max Vandenberg will be safe at the Hubermann house? If so, what do you think the family will do to help keep him protected and hidden?
Throughout this novel I realized that this book is very different in which case it is from the perspective of a German family who does not particularly agree with the government at the time of World War 11. So many novels based in this time are from the Jewish perspective or the German's that agree with Hitler and his ways. The Book Thief is different and very unique in that way. We as Americans stereo-type the Germans saying they were all on Hitler's side. When it was not like that. A lot of Germans felt like the Hubermann family they just did not have a choice and had to do what Hitler told them to do.
While reading I was inspired by Liesel's passion about learning and just reading in general. I had to ask myself "What is the one thing that I am that passionate about?" What are you passionate about?
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