Essay on the Book Theif

“Deserves a place on the same shelf with The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank… Poised to become a classic. ”- USA Today on The Book Thief. I think next years incoming freshmen should read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak because of the unique way the book was written, showing the power of words. Within this essay I will write about the symbolism in the book. I will write about the narrator. I will also write about my personal experience with one of the characters. The symbolism within the book gives a unique perspective. The book uses symbolism when the narrator says “That last time. That red sky… found on page 19 in The Book Thief. The narrator explains that the sky was red. He explains the emotion or feeling that was going on through color. Zusak shows the power of words throughout the book, especially when the character Max writes The Word Shaker. Death was the narrator of The Book Thief which made the book much more intriguing to me as a reader. If the book were to be narrated by anyone else it wouldn’t have been able to flow as well. It would have not been able to tell what exactly happened to Max, or Liesel, or any other character. How when Death realizes Rudy dies he says “the boy from the plane, I thought.
The one with the teddy bear. Where was his comfort? Where was someone to alleviate this robbery of his life? Who was there to sooth him as life’s rug was snatched from under his sleeping feet? No one. There was only me. ” found on page 531 in The Book Thief. I think it is very touching to read that even Death is sad about Rudy’s death. Also if the book wasn’t narrated the way it was then it wouldn’t had been as memorable. Max’s book, The Word Shaker had a powerful effect on me as I read the book. The way Max says that Liesel’s words are stronger than Hitler’s. Max says that Liesel’s words are like a tree.
The tree grows strong and tall until one day she gets off of the tree and lets the people chop it down. When it is chopped down the words kill all the bad trees and makes people realize how strong words can be. I think that next year’s incoming freshmen should read The Book Thief because of the unique way the book was written, showing the power of words. The symbolism within the book gives a unique perspective. Death was the narrator of The Book Thief which made the book much more intriguing to me as a reader. Max’s book, The Word Shaker had a powerful effect on me as I read the book.