books

[elizabeth miller]

   In the novel Liesel steals books and food. But she is called the Book thief by Death. Why is it that she is known for her thievery of literature but not of anything else? Is there a reason that books call out to Liesel?

[ninaseidel]

I think that stealing the books shaped her character more than stealing food did. The books played a much more prominent role in the story because they shaped her relationships with a lot of the people in her life like Hans, Max, and Ilsa. She stole food mostly out of necessity but her reasons for stealing books were more complicated and relevant to the story. She stole them because she loved to read but also because she wanted to rebel against the Nazis. The books that she stole were often relevant to her situation at the time and helped to tell the story. All in all, I think the books played a greater role in Leisel's life than the food did and that's why she was called "The Book Theif" rather than something more general.

[Kaylee Buntyn]

Liesel loved to read and at a time where you got only bare minimum of food and actual supplies, entertainment was not a very demanded thing. Literature being an easy entertainment system, was taken or burned if messages/themes contradicted the teachings of Nazis. The books made her feel normal in sense, or that she was gonna be alright and things weren't unpredictable, essentially a safe haven. The whole reason for the novel is because of Liesel's love of literature and how it impacted everything and everyone around her. This is a book about certain struggles that occurred during the war, but its also main focus is about how Liesel got through the hardships with the words she embraced and learned.

[alexhammond]

Liesel was in a situation where almost everyone was starving (a little or a lot). Her food stealing was not that far from ordinary. However her reading what she did was for the most part forbidden, she stole a book from a fire where the books were being burnt for a reason, not just kindling. Her interest in reading was far from normal, she had almost an obsession. This to her was unique, unlike her hunger. I think she enjoyed reading so much for the same reason we all do, to escape out world. Yet, in her situation, she had a world she desperately needed escaping from. She was able to read through her hard times, giving her the ability to be the light that she was for Hans and Max and Rudy. She loved learning, about EVERYTHING. And in those times, knowing about everything was against the rules. This making her book stealing much more taboo than her food thievery.

[janepearson]

In this particular story, I believe that the author only chooses to go in depth on her thievery of books because in this time, books were the most undesired, and were completely discarded. I think that author continues to bring out the curiosity and daring side of Liesel, through her love of books, that no one was to expect from a young girl with such a terrible start to her life.

[domtoye]

I believe this is because stealing books was an unusual thing to do. Whereas, at the time, stealing food was very common. Common enough for their to be a miniature gang of teen boys who only stole food. People are often remembered by things that stand out, even if they participated in other common activities more often.