The Book Thief by Markus Zusak --- Pt. 4

Pgs. 239-292

Apparently the mayor's wife is out of the picture for the moment. The mayor fired Liesel's mom and now Liesel can no longer go up to her house/library. Not that it matters really, because the little girl is now completely angry with the older woman.

The relationship between Liesel and Max is disturbing. You know that the author doesn't really mean for their interactions to be taken badly, but they can be misinterpreted. Earlier, while reading, I thought they were falling in love until I realized that Max is 24 and Liesel is eleven or twelve. For just a moment I was disturbed. I had to remind myself that his feelings toward her are solely social and platonic than anything else. Besides, Liesel loves Rudy even if she can't admit it to him.

I like that the story is still giving you glimpses at the history of the World War, but I don't think it gives you enough. I think that Death, since he is the voice of the novel, should talk about his job a little more. He worked overtime during the war, as he would have in any war. Maybe the author didn't want to do an over load, but it's almost necessary. Let us really know what's going on!

Mama and Papa have both taken a back seat, nearly disappearing altogether. You only see them mentioned in passing. Mama did have one quick scene when Liesel told her that the mayor had fired her. And Papa had a quick snippet just after that.

I'm so ready for this book to have a point.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak --- Pt. 3

Pgs. 168-238

Things I don't understand:

1). The point of this story.
2.) Why the author is including all of these small details.
3.) What the point of the mayor's wife is in relation to this book.
4.) Why Liesel steals books.
5.) Why we had a complete info overload for the character of Max Vandenburg.
6.) Why the author goes from completely obscure and secretive to completely overbearing with giving us details or information.

My opinion of this book has not become any better. Yes, the narrator can be funny. Yes, Liesel can pique my interest. Yes, I want to know what happens, but I don't want to spend my entire life figuring it out. I'm growing old waiting for this plot to actually make sense. There is only the slightest sense of push...the tiniest essence of danger. It is true that World War II is happening all around them, but it seems so far away from this scene that you hardly remember it is happening.

I want something to happen. I want action. I want drama. The author packs so much fluff into this novel that I'm choking trying to get through. Give me meat! Not peas.

Give the editor of this book a scapel and tell him to carve a story from it.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak --- Pt. 2

Pgs. 69-167.

Still, I have no clue as to what the point of this story is. It could just be an informative novel about World War II. However, I hope there are a fews more themes than just that.

I find the main character to be hard to grasp. She's hilarious in parts and completely serious in others. She's written too old for her eleven year old self. She grasps concepts that are beyond her even though she can hardly read. Every time I try to play the story in my head I see a sixteen or seventeen year old girl instead of who she really is. I suppose, though, that since the book is written from Death's perspective, he might have something to do with how we see the girl.

I love the fact that she got into a fight and beat the bigger boy up. I love it even more that in her enraged state, she attacked a second boy that didn't even deserve it. This little girl takes no prisoners. She's all business. That is until she gets around her best friend. When they are together...It's a complete change. She becomes likeable.

The only great thing about this book is that by the time I'm done with it, I'll be able to curse like a sailor in German.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Pgs. 1-68

I want to make it clear that I don't like the author's writing style in this book. It's too choppy and confusing. Death, because that's who is telling this story, keeps hinting at things that are going to come in the story, but he does it in a manner that pretty much gives it away. I don't like that, because I'd rather read about it later and be surprised than to already know and be let down because there is no suspense.

Death is a strange character. He keeps trying to tell about his occupation without telling you too much, but it just creates a jumbled mess that doesn't really make sense. He can smell colors... Which I find strange, but I won't judge him for that.

The setting is during the reign of Hitler in Germany. The Nazi party is working hard to create anti-Jewish propoganda. There are lots of little facts in this story that are taken directly from history and just worked into the piece of fiction. I think this is a good way for someone who doesn't like to read history books to get a little bit of a background...

So far... I'm just not sure what the point of the story is... It is not giving us enough hints. Maybe it's about the importance of education and reading. The book's title is what it is for a reason. Hopefully I will learn soon enough what the author wanted to get across.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson --- Pt. 3

Pgs. 133-198

The end of the book. It was alright.

We find out what IT did. That was...touchy. I think that Anderson approached the subject very well and handled the situation as delicately as possible.

HEATHER! I'm so excited for Mel! She told that phoney to shove off and I'm proud of her for it. That was a great scene; probably one of my favorites. It was nice to see that she could stand up for herself.

The bathroom stall article that Mel wrote turned into a confession sheet. Girls responded to it with abandon. Lots of girls have been hurt by Andy (IT). Now Mel isn't alone in her struggle.

I won't reveal more of the story, because the story has an open end. If I say too much, it will give everything away.

The art project turned out to be very, very good. I think that it would mean a lot to everyone who has read this book if the author had the project commissioned.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson --- Pt. 2

Pgs. 69-132

They chose Wombats! I'm not really sure why, but I'm glad they picked a mascot.

We start to see more of the relationship between Melinda (because that's her name) and her parents. We knew they were never around, but we didn't know any more than that. Now we see that Melinda's mom has to work very hard while Melinda's dad doesn't really work all that much. At one point Melinda seems to blame her dad about some of the problems that her parents are having, but we can't tell if it is true or not. Then, her parents are brought to the school to talk about Mel's skipping habits and grades. I find this hilarious, because she ends up in MISS (Merryweather In School Suspension). She misses school then she goes to MISS. It's amazing.

Mel is definitely not getting anywhere with her art project. She just can't seem to figure it out. It all ends up looking too fake or too sickly. We do find out that she can play some basket ball, whatever good that will do her. She is offered an A if she can teach the basket ball team to shoot. Are our schools really that messed up? Later, Mr. Freeman gives Mel a ride to her mom's workplace. Mr. Freeman talks about the Picasso-esqe, cubist tree that Mel attempted. He thinks that she has real talent, but that she needs to show depth, unlike the mirror that she seems to be. She needs to show emotion. It's terrible that most people might misconstrue this scene now-a-days for some awful sexual scene, when it could just be innocent.

She's afraid of IT. IT makes me think of that old movie about the killer clown. I wonder if Anderson did that on purpose. There are several clowns mentioned in the book. One of the art students has clowns as her project. I'm sure I will find out soon enough.

Now Heather is breaking up the friendship! What is wrong with that girl? Mel did everything she could to help her out and support her when things were tough. Now, she's just going to dump her? That is just messed up. If Heather left her just because the Marthas wanted her to, I will be very upset.

Lastly, David Petrakis invites her to a get-together. Mel freaks. Apparently parties are bad. Which means she's had some awful experiences at a party or parties. Probably has something to do with IT. Clowns are always at parties.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson --- Pt. 1

Pgs. 1-68.

Mel? Maybe? We aren't really sure what the main character's name is yet. It's her first day back at the school, all her friends have ditched her and there are hints thrown around at some sort of catastropic party. You don't know anything about her, unless you count that she was part of the Plain Jane clique for a while. Now, she is all alone except for the new girl that doesn't know about what happened over the summer.

I find it really weird that her school is debating over mascots. First, they were the Trojans. Then, the Devils. Third, the Tigers. Now, they are changing it again! What does this say about the book? I don't know if she is trying to create sybolism through it by showing that high school is the place where identity is found. It would coincide nicely with the clique theme that seems to be in almost every section.

I like the art teacher though. It's easy to see that Mel is going to do great in this class. The object she got as her project center, the tree, is very easy to recogonize as a symbol. The tree grows...She'll grow. The tree blosoms in it's own time, so will she blosom in her time.

Lastly, she has no relationship with her parents. I'm not sure if this is a major theme of this story, but I'm not sure I like it. I can't see myself as someone without a relationship with my parents.

So far.... I like her sarcasm, but I don't like her.