The Holocaust was,without doubt, one of the most horrific atrocities committed in war history.During Adolf Hitler's twelve year reign of terror,he contributed to the deaths of over fifty million people during the Second World War. He created a racial state where people considered unfit to live there were either persecuted,enslaved, or murdered in the most callous and inhumane way.Hitler's goal was to kill all Jewish men,women and children. He succeeded in murdering six million of them. Those that survived that horrendous atrocity would endure the pain and trauma suffered for the rest of their lives.On 1st November 2005, the United Nations resolved to designate 27th January as an International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.An outreach programme with the theme " Remembrance and Beyond " was developed with the aim of firstly, remembering the victims of the Holocaust, and secondly, helping to prevent future acts of genocide.The theme for the 2012 International Day of Commemoration was "Children and the Holocaust". The United Nations remembers ,and honours, the memory of all the children who suffered and died at the hands of the Nazis.Hopefully,future generations will not have to suffer the same atrocities, pain and heartbreak.

Tuesday, 17 April 2012

The Book Thief

The Book Thief

Markus Zusak

Picador,Australia; Knopf,USA,2006.

ISBN: 978-0-375-84220-7



This is the story of a nine-year-old German girl, Liesel Meminger . It is 1939 in Nazi Germany and Liesel,along with her younger brother,Werner,are sent to live with foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann. While on the way to their new home Liesel’s brother dies. After the funeral, she finds a book, “The Gravedigger’s Handbook”, in the snow near her brother’s grave. This is the start of a love affair with books. She is taught, by Hans, how to read and begins stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor’s wife’s library, and anywhere books are to be found. Hans Hubermann, Liesel’s foster father, works as a painter, and he and Liesel share a very close bond. Rosa Hubermann is Liesel’s foul-mouthed foster mother, and even though she rules the household with an iron fist and often swears at Liesel, she cares for her very much. Both Hans and Rosa are killed in the Himmel Street bombing.
 
Rudy Steiner is Liesel’s neighbour and love interest, and Max Vandenburg is a Jewish fist-fighter who the Hubermanns stow away in their home.
The narrator of the book is Death, who is sympathetic to mankind and hates the despair and destruction brought upon humans by War.


The Book Thief is a powerful and haunting novel. It gives great insight into Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. It is superbly written and author Markus Zusak has given us, without doubt, one of the most enduring stories of our time. The Book Thief is suitable for Young Adult and Adult readers.

Historical Fiction







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