The Book Thief

I've been reading a lot these days, what with Cecilia being out of it... The last one i read was The book Thief by Marcus Zusak.

I liked the book a lot. I think the last time i read a story narrated by Death was one of the Terry Pratchett novels. It's an interesting touch, since he gets to toss in a few thoughts himself.

I'm not really one for literary criticism, but i start to suspect that the book's a good one when i start sharing emotions with the characters... I laugh with them, cry with them, feel the pain of the whip across my back and, in this book, hold my breath as Max hides in the basement, praying that the nazis won't think of looking in there... Touching stuff.

I was especially attracted to this book because of the name. As a manic bibliophile, i love the concept of a "book thief". Someone who steals books just to read them. The story's not exactly what i imagined when i looked at the cover, but it was still worth the day and a half i spent reading it.

Of course, I'm being rude. I'm spoiling the ending, not only of the entire book, but of this particular piece of it. I have given you two events in advance, because i don't have much interest in building mystery. Mystery bores me. It chores me. I know what happens and so do you. It's the machinations that wheel us there that aggravate, perplex, interest, and astound me.

Everyday, people try to ruin the suspense of the book or tv series or movie that i happen to be watching. Threatening people with spoilers is a favorite pastime around here. At first, i used to get all worked up, just like i'd seen everyone else react in the same situation. But it later occurred to me that those little "revelations" had done nothing to reduce my enjoyment...

I went on to read the books and watch the serials with as much fervour as if i had no idea what was going to happen.

That was when i realised i don't give a damn about suspense... Go ahead, do yer worst!!


There were people everywhere on the city street, but the stranger could not have been more alone if it were empty.

It gets lonely sometimes, especially when you don't have any 'best friends' to hang out with. Even with the 600 other guys in the hostel, and the 2000 other students in the college.

Sometimes, i'll be sitting in the middle of a couple of hundred other people in an auditorium (loud enough to wake the dead as you can imagine), and i'll just slip into a sort of trance... It's a brilliant feeling, where there's nothing else. No intrusive sounds or sights or smells... Just you, and whatever your imagination cares to cook up...

It's fun...