Book Challenge Day 6

July 6, 2014May 27, 2018 Ashley LP4 Comments

6. A book that makes you sad.

There are quite a few books that make me sad, it’s so very hard to pick just one. And to do it without spoilers.

So here are two.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This book, about the childhood view of war, about Death’s view of senseless violence triggered something inside of me that touched me deeply. And the losses in the book, which I read in October, around my father’s birthday only seemed to invigorate the loss that I was still feeling over him from July 21. Each death in the novel, whether it was a minor character or not touched my heart and angered me. Yet it was one of the best books I read last year.

Night by Elie Wiesel

I know so many people who read this book when they were in elementary school/middle school/high school, but I didn’t come upon this book or Elie Wiesel’s story until I took a Holocaust Literature class. This was a class that actually changed my life. I can honestly tell you that. I had the right Professor for it, one who fought to honour those who had been lost in the most respectful manner he could and in doing so allowed his students to see how little we thought of something beyond ourselves.

Elie Wiesel’s heartbreaking, and true, story helped me see that as well. It is a hard read, but I feel a necessary one.

30 Day Challenges

Book Challenge Day 1

July 1, 2014May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

1. The best book you read last year.

I actually picked three, because I read from very different genres.

Non-Fiction

We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed Along With Our Families by Philip Gourevitch

I don’t know what I expected this book to be, or my own reactions to it. But this book was nothing but informative, and my reactions were severe. I was quite young when the situation in Rwanda arose, so my memory of it and my learning after the fact is limited. It was a friend who recommended I pick up this book, as I do enjoy non-fiction but haven’t read any in a while.

This is written in such a way, by Philip Gourevitch that you can’t help but be involved in the lives of those whose stories are presented. You also can’t help but consider yourself, and your own emotional reactions to things and what type of person you are.

It is informative, it is visceral and violent, but it is truthful. It’s a truth that we all need to hear though, that sometimes, we need to look outside of ourselves at the people around us and see what might be needed outside of our own cushy existences.

Fiction

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Spoilers (slightly) for The Book Thief and FreakAngel below.

Continue reading “Book Challenge Day 1” →

The Book Thief

October 16, 2013May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had actually heard very little about this book before I read it, except for a few mentions about the fact that it was a good one.

Initially, before I picked it up, I was a little bit apprehensive, knowing that it was supposed to be young adult fiction but I am ever so glad that I picked it up. Because I would have been missing out on something in not having read this.

The way it is written, with Death himself as the narrator of the book is something that captured my attention immediately. Where some might have found it too out there, I felt welcomed by the way in which it was written.

Liesel, the main character, or one of two, is a refreshing change from the normal. Sometimes selfish, she is almost always an honest character even in her thievery. Her best friend Rudy, is a delight as well and the innocence of children even when effected by loss is present here.

Hans for me is one of the true heroes of the story, a fully fleshed out character with his own fears concerning his family, but his own convictions, refusing to fall to Nazi Germany’s regime. This book is something that I never could have expected, and while the end did make me sob it was perfect.

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