The Book Thief: let the discussion begin!

For those of you who haven't yet read Mark Zusak's The Book Thief, but intend to, you might want to stop reading this blog for a little while, as there are bound to be spoilers as the MMPL librarians discuss the text. Those of you who have read it, please feel free to participate in the discussion with your comments.

I almost put this book down after the first few pages; I have to admit to having a problem with books in which the narrator blatantly directs the course of action and tells the reader what's going to happen, or how to observe something, or whatever. I know that there isn't any actual objective narration in a story--the author is always directing the course of the narrative--but I dislike the sense of overt manipulation of the reader in the use of a narrator like Death in this story.

But I persevered, and I felt that Death became somewhat less obtrusive as the author warmed up to his own story. I'm still not entirely sure why this novel needed the expository character of Death; I think it would have been just as moving without him, although the author's idea of Death and how he carries out his job was interesting itself.

MMPL Librarians' Book Club

The Librarians have decided to host their own book club (though probably not on a monthly basis--we're busy, ya know!), and the first book we've chosen is Mark Zusak's "The Book Thief."

We invite you to read along with us, and share your views using the comments section of this blog. We won't start discussing it until February, so you have some time. Hope you'll join us!

-MMPL Staff