The Book Thief - What's All the Fuss About???

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

My review

It has taken me two months to get 3/4 of the way through this book - and not for the reason you'd think! I am literally savoring every word.


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I remember a decade ago when Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone came out. There was a lot of hooplah, and I was determined not to "be a sheep" and join the masses reading it. On a whim, I caved and listened to the book on tape. And fell in love!

I'd heard about The Book Thief from many of my writing friends, some of whom share the same agent with Markus Zusak. They raved about it. It was a huge bestseller! Again, I was determined not to join the masses. When The Book Thief was reviewed by my local book club (and not very well liked, I might add) I had to know what all the fuss was about.

I borrowed the book and began to read it. The way I read books changed forever.

I savored every sentence. Seriously. Markus Zusak is a literary genius; I have no doubt this book will go down in time as a classic, and I feel honored to have read it in its infancy.

When will I finish it? No idea! I have to return the borrowed copy tonight, which means I will have to buy a copy.

There is no other book I would rather own.

What books have changed you forever?

In Like a Lion

Has anyone besides me been living for days with crazy windstorms? We've been dealing with 70 MPH gusts that come roaring down our little canyon. (To see where we live, click on the photo above. The red arrow is pointing to our house.) Finally, this evening, the winds seem to have calmed.

Just now my teenage son (who snapped the photo) came to me. "Close your eyes. Tip your head back. And smell!" He opened the deck door behind me. My favorite scent rolled in, cold and crisp and fresh. Rain. The first rain of spring.

Of course, now that the rain has turned to sleet, I have no doubt that winter is not yet through with us. Which is okay. Because March has most definitely come roaring in like a lion. It will be nice to watch it leave like a lamb.

What about you? What is your favorite type of weather?