The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

As I was walking through Barnes and Noble, this book caught my eye, mostly because of the title. The thought of someone stealing books intrigued me. Then I read the book jacket and found that the story took place during the Holocaust. Last spring, my family visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC, and I was very moved. So my interest stemmed from personal connections.

The book looks long, but moves quickly. The story is told by Death, taking the form of a narrator. He describes his many actions during World War II, and even gives a sort of human side to death. Even from this perspective, the story is not gory or violent, beyond the violence of the times. The narrator uses lots of foreshadowing to prepare the reader for what is to come, which helps to bring together seemingly separate events. Although the ending is sad (how can a book set in the Holocaust not be), the story has moments of brightness and hope.

I found this book easier to read than Night, an autobiographical book about a Holocaust survivor. I have started it, but just can't seem to make myself finish it.