Amazon.ca describes this book as a "dark and powerfully absorbing novel, brilliantly executed". It's narrator calls it "just as small story, really." Jump in with both feet and surrender to one of the most gripping, unusual, hilarious books I've read in years. It's a book about books, about hate, about love, and about how words can be our most powerful weapons.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Characters
Here's where you can post about the various characters. Who are they? What do you know about them? How do they act? How are they connected? How do they change?
I have read up to part 5 in The Book Thief and this is what i think about Rosa Hubermann so far. She's a character that is in the story to make the female reader sympathize with her. She gives a preview on what life was like for a woman during the Holocaust. She has recently shown change in her character. This could be because she lost her son and in a way has had him replaced with a much dangerous option. I think she also feels gulit over having her son replaced and she is very frightened of what might happen in the future. This is why she keeps "a cardboard face" as the author describes it. But lately, she doesn't swear and yell at people who have cancelled their ironing services from her, nor has she sworn at or hit Liesel. This leads me to believe that life is getting too much for her and that we might see a softer side of her. This also leads me to believe that the change in her character may come off suspicious to the world outside the Hubermann household.
I agree with Vesna's thoughts of Rosa changing. I think it's because she is very stressed with the hiding of Max and hoping everyday that no one will find out or that Liesel won't let anything slip. She hasn't been hitting Liesel, I think, because she understands how hard this has been on her, and she really does love her. Sometimes she just has an odd way of showing it.
i agree. At the beginning of the book i did not like Rosa's character very much because of the way she treated Liesel. But now that all the hard times have begun she has changed and realized that she should be more understanding towards Liesel since it is probably really hard on her. Rosa was always worried about what might happen and hadn't noticed how it was all effecting Liesel as well, she just doesn't express or show her fear in the same way most people would.
I agree as well, it's very interesting how events can change a person. Especially someone like Rosa Hubermann, as I probably would have thought at the begginning of the book that Rosa was too stubborn to change, and if anything in the face of hard times she just would have yelled and pulled out the spoons even more. I really like the character that she's become though, she still manages to say everything that's on her mind and call everyone names, except now there's no doubt in the reader's minds that she does so lovingly.
I have read up to part 6 in the book and what i think about Max (the jew they are hiding in their basement)so far is that he is a very damaged character. not just from the way he speaks but even from the way he sleeps. He has been in hiding in a dark room alone for quite a long time so naturally he would be quite damaged and scarred and one of the ways that this shows is through the way he sleeps. He has trained himself to be quiet so unlike Leisel who screams out in terror from her nightmares, he just gives an anxious gasp.
I think that he is most connected with the character Leisel because they have both suffered trauma in their lives and that helps them to connect on quite a personal level.
The only change that i have seen in him so far is how he has opened up to Leisel. (This change goes for both of them). When he first came to Himmel street he just shut himself away and Leisel was quite scared to talk to him but once they started talking they became quite the pair of friends from what i can see so far in the novel.
I like the character of Hans Hubermann. He takes Liesel in as his own daughter and treats her very well. He helps her learn to read and traded his tobacco to be able to buy Liesel a christmas present. When Rosa was treating Liesel poorly he tries to protect her from that and will also ignore his wife when she is being unreasonable. He also doesn't agree with the nazi ideas which would be dangerous at that time.
In the beginning I didn't think I would like Rosa Hubermann at all. I thought she was going to be really rude and a bad person in general. But, throughout the book, I have grown to like her. She has been through a lot, having her son die, and now feeling like she is replacing him with Liesel. And now she is hiding a Jewish person in her basement which is really stressful and she could get into really big trouble if anyone found out. She is worrying that Liesel might slip up and let someone know that Max is in their basement.
i think that Liesel steals books without really thinking when she does it. I think she almost has mixed emotions when it comes to stealing. when she is stealing a book she finds it ok but after she gets the book she feels bad and thinks about the consequences that could come from stealing the book, this shows that she is caring in a way but also confused.
I really like Hans Hubermann. He is a really genuine person. He's is extremely loving towards Liesel, he helps her with her reading, and takes good care of her. He doesn't seem to let the stress of having a Jew in his basement get to him. Hans and Rosa are a contrast, because Hans is such a nice, loving person and Rosa is harsh, she swears a lot and is kind of rude. Hans is also really respectful to everyone including Max.
I agree with Sckylar completely. I think that the reason Hans and Rosa were created was for the reader to see the difference in the relationships between them and Liesel. It has been said already, but I see that Hans is supposed to be contributor of the positive aspects to Liesel and Rosa is supposed to contribute the negative and the independent qualities, making the Liesel character absorb these qualities and make them her own.
I find Rudy a very interesting character. He is a friend of Liesels and lives in the neighbourhood. He stands out to me for various reasons. I enjoy the realtionship that he developes with Liesel and the character traits he poseses. He is very persistent with things he wants, like trying to get Lieslel to kiss him and stealing food. He can also be a great friend, when he stood up to Viktor when he took Liesels book. I have really enjoyed how the character has developed throughout the beggining and im interested to see what else he will be involved in for the next few parts.
i think that Liesel's foster parents care about her alot because they are hard on liesel. Rose seems like she is very strict and does not not have much of a sweet side but shes doing it because she loves her. Hans is a loving and caring father which is why liesel can trust her father more than her mother, also Hans helps liesel further her education by reading her books every night that liesel steals .
I agree with Ally, I think Rudy is a very intriguing character that isn't really essential to the book but he adds a very interesting twist to the novel. I probably couldn't imagine the book without Rudy now because he is just so different from the rest of them and I like how he does not take things nearly as seriously as everyone else, even though I think that is partially because he does not understand how serious everything that is going on around him is. He adds a side to this book that is light and airy and I really think he is a good companion and distraction for Liesel.
I agree with what you guys were saying about Rosa, when she was first introduced into the book I thought she was going to be rude to Liesel and always hitting her always yelling and I thought I was never going to like her. But then once Max came into the picture she changed. She became nicer to Liesel and then it made it easier for me to read her parts because she wasn't so rude.
I have become very attached to the most recently introduced character of Max Vandenburg. His connection with Liesel is almost like a brother sister type relationship. I think the way the two interact is very appealing to me as a reader as it is interesting to see how she goes from being scared of him to what I'd say is falling inlove with Max. I also like how humble he is that the family has accepted him into there home to protect him.
Max Vandenburg is an interesting character. He is a Jewish man living in the Holocaust. He left his family, and never looked back so that he could find the Hubermann's and survive. I think he is a really good person because he doesn't complain about not having enough food or about the cold. And I agree with Riley what Riley said about Max and Liesel being like brother and sister and how he thinks that they are falling in love.
I agree with what Riley and Schylar both said about Max Vandenburg. You definately feel true sympathy for Max, being left completely alone in the world. I think that he is a very genuine character, who tries to humble himself before the Hubermanns. They may have been able to give him a lot, but he was thankful for what he was given.
I find Liesel to be very sweet. She doesn't do things to make people angry and she avoids doing things that will get her in alot of trouble. But once she started to steal books it seems like something you would never expect from her, she seems so sweet an innocent. So it's nice to see a slight twist in her character. That she will steal books to furthur her education with reading, and because its something she really enjoys.
I like what Ally and Nicole said earlier about Rudy. He's definitely in the running for being my favourite character as I think that without his light-hearted presence and wise-mouth jokes the book might almost be too dark to handle in places. For me, his and Liesel's relationship is like this little ray of hope that pops up every few chapters when death focuses on them. He's a nice reminder that despite the fact that things are so difficult and bad where they are, laughs, happiness, love, and something as innocent as the want for a schoolyard kiss can still be found. I think his natural caring and kind behaviour towards others is also extremely important because it reminds readers that not every young man in Nazi Germany was a brainwashed lunatic. His character makes the story much more hopeful because despite all the horrible things going on in the novel, somebody just plain good and friendly like Rudy still exists and can be found.
I also really like the character of Rudy. He brings something different to the book that other characters have not. I really enjoy when he and Liesel appear together in the book because it's always enjoyable to see what he's going to do next. He's very intriguing as a character.
A character that is continuing to stick out to me is Hans Hubberman. I like the way he has developed and you are always seeing more of his true personality. Hes very caring, loving and brave. The part that made me see this was when he tried to give one of the Jewish people bread. In a way it was a really senseless thing to do but it showed how brave and caring he really was. He cares so much about his family and the people around him, no matter who they are. His actions have continuously proven this throughout the novel.
I agree with Ally that Hans is sticking out in the book. I find him to be a very humble man who will stick to his morals no matter what the circumstance! Unfortunately I hate how he gets the short end of the stick and is forced off to war. Hopefully everything will go well though and he'll survive.
I think that hnas is a very brave man. He agrees to hide a jew in his basement risking getting caught. The consequences would be severe if he ever got caught. also when the jews were down the street he gives one a piece of bread even though he knew that there would be consequences. Those are just a few examples of how brave he is in the story so far. I really like his character.
As I keep reading on further in the story I start to belive more and more that death is actually a good character. Even at the start when some of you were thinking that he was a good character I still didn't believe it until later. The reason being is that for my whole life death has always been made out to be a bad guy.
I agree with you Tyler. Hans isn't the type of man who fights in wars to show his strength and bravery, but he shows true bravery by doing what few were brave enough to do. For these, and a few other reasons, he is my favorite character. I really like the calming vibe that he seems to emit. He seemed to always be the character who can make a mountain of trouble feel like a molehill. For some reason, (I'm quite sure the author purposefully did it)Hans didn't have the same sort of calming feel, in my opinion, when he returned from the war. I'm not sure if I'm imagining it or not though.
I agree with what Brittany said about Liesel. She is stealing the books to better herself and her education and that her stealing the books is an interesting twist. She is a very nice person. And she seems very grateful that Hans and Rosa took her in. She is also respectful and does what Hans and Rosa tell her to do.
I think Hans Hubermann was a very courageous character because he fed a jew in the middle of many people and nazi soldiers risking the chance of being hurt by a nazi soldier, also risking the chance of ruining Max's hiding spot in their house. He's also courageous because he went into war, and was hiding a jewish man in his basement. He was one of the characters I really enjoyed because he was very nice to Liesel and put himself in danger to help someone else.
After I finished the chapter, the thought of rudy naked. I start to get the feeling that Leisel is starting to fall in love with Rudy and she doesn't even realize it. I really like the relationship they have in the story. It adds another element to the book and adds some comedy.
I like how Liesel has developed as a character through out the novel. I like that she is able to overcome the hardships she has to endure without much complaining and feeling sorry for herself. I also am wondering why the fact that she has been stealing books has played such a large part in the book because so far it has not seemed that important to the story line.
I like Rudy's character, I also like his relationship with Liesel. He seems to like her so much and Liesel doesn't seem interested. He always tries to get her to kiss him. I like that when Rudy dies, she kisses him. Although his death was really sad, Rudy finally getting his kiss was very cute. I think Liesel might be falling for Rudy and she just doesn't know it yet.
I find Max a very interesting and sweet character. The reasons for this is because he creates a friendship with a little girl he is living with. He writes her stories about himself and her. He is very thankful for the Hubermann family for letting him live with them and he'll do anything to be out of the way, and for them to not get caught. For example him sleeping in the basement when it is very very cold, He ate Rosa's soup that wasn't very appetizing. etc. etc.
I agree with all the positive things that have been said about Hans Hubermann. He's one of those characters that is just everything good and likeable you could possibly think of. He's ruled just enough by his emotions to be relate-able, he's just wise and humble enough to be looked up to, yet still firm enough to be respected. Like Reid said, he's the type of man who shows real, true bravery in ways most others can't, and a truly selfless and unique person. I also love the way that death talks about his silver eyes and they way they melt and sharpen- it paints a really clear picture in my mind of who I think of Hans to be.
Hans Hubermann is my favourite character. He is such a loving person, and he was written very well. The author made it very easy to feel for him and to relate to him. I think he is the real hero of this story. He has taken in Liesel and Max as a part of his family, and felt extremely guilty and unworthy of life after having to make Max leave. He is very sweet and compassionate, as displayed by his many acts of selflessness like giving the jew a piece of bread, and risking his own life for others on many occasions. He is very brave for facing the consequences of his actions - being whipped and sent to war. Hans is a very amiable person, as well as being generous. When the raids were starting, he would paint the windows of those who could not afford to pay with money, for something as small as a glass of champagne or a half cigarette, even though he barely had enough money to support Rosa and Liesel. I agree with Kelsey's comment about his silver eyes. The author does a great jov of using such a small detail to show very strong emotion in Hans. It makes it very clear to us as readers how Hans is feeling, even though we don't always get to hear his thoughts.
I really like death as a character in this novel. I like the narrative style he is given by Zusak with the clear and decisive comments with foreshadowing. Some of these comments made by daeth are are more sublte than others and seem almost meaningless as I would read over them without noting much importance in them. It wasn't until later when I was looking back in the novel that I picked out some of these foreshadows. Here is agood example of one the foreshadows; "The roof was flatand there was a shallow basement for storage. It was supposedly not a basement of adequate depth."(Pg. 32)
I agree with you Matt i think that death is probably my favorite characters in the novel because of the way he foreshadows but also the way he shares his opinion on things. I think my favorite example of this would be when he says that he thinks that Rudy through the 100 meter dash because he wasn't Jesse Owens. I think thats an interesting way of looking at it that I don't think I would have thought of before death said it.
Rudy has become my favorite character hands down. His carelessness and easygoing behavior seems like an escape from the dreariness of the war. I can't help but feel a sort of pity for him, because based a lot of his actions towards comforting, impressing and trying to win over Liesel and, in my opinion, she didn't really show very much appreciation to him.
Rudy has become my favorite character hands down. His carelessness and easygoing behavior seems like an escape from the dreariness of the war. I can't help but feel a sort of pity for him, because based a lot of his actions towards comforting, impressing and trying to win over Liesel and, in my opinion, she didn't really show very much appreciation to him.
I felt very bad for Max in this novel. Because he was taken away from his family so he could live in the Hubermann's home, which was a very nice gesture but being torn away from your family is heart breaking. He had to hide in the basement, even in winter when it was absolutely cold. He wasn't able to go outside or even look out the window. And when he was forced to leave the Hubermann's home after Hans fed a jewish man. He was all on his own until someone found him and made him a part of the holocaust.
After finishing the book, I can say that my favorite character was Max. I not only loved his willingness and strength as a person but also his relationship with Liesel and pretty much everything else about him. He brought something to the book that was touching and showed the suffering and pain that the Jews had to endure through the war. Max was also my favorite character because of the things he taught Liesel and the special relationship, as I said that they had with eachother. He was almost like a big brother to Liesel, and I really believe that he had a special role in her life because she had gone through so much and so had he. Both Liesel and Max brought out the best in eachother and I really enjoyed reading about their friendship and love for eachother grow. My favorite scene in the book also included Max, which was when he and Liesel finally saw eachother once again after he had been taken to the camp and there was a Jew march. On page 509-515. This was my favorite because it really was impacting and showed so much about Max and Liesel as well.
I agree. I think Max was a great character as well as a good example for Liesel. Having her foster parents take in a Jew knowing it is a huge risk, was a good lesson for her to do the right thing. Max was an amazing person. He cared so much about her and how they both loved to read. It was special of him to write all those stories for her.
I completly agree with Carmen. The way Max developed through the novel was really great. I really enjoyed what values he had and how he was able to connect with Liesel. The way Max was potrayed made the book have a more emotional feel, you could sense how he was feeling easily. He was different than the typical Jewish person hiding during the war in most novels. We were able to connect with him in many ways, relate with him yet see the pain and suffering he had to go through that we cant always relate with. I also really liked how Liesel interacted with him. The relationship that was bult kept me interested for the ending. To see what would happen after he left and was sent to the concentration camp. Overall Liesel and Max had the most impact on me. The emotions displayed by them kept the book interesting and showed a different side to the story.
In the Book Thief my favorite character was Hans Huberman. I liked Hans because he seemed like caring and welcoming person. Chronologically, the first event I see Hans being caring is in his first war, when he goes to visit his war friend's family to notify them of Erik's death. When he was at their house Hans gave them his name and address and told the family that they could come to him if they ever needed help. Next Hans, basically made himself a father of Liesel by caring for her and making sure she felt at home when she first came to the Hubermann household. He stayed with Liesel when she would have nightmares, taught her how to read, and spent time with her and entertained her with his accordion playing. Hans also kept his promise to the Vandenburgs when Max came to the Hubermann's home and Hans welcomed him with open arms. Even though Hans knew he and anyone else in his house could potentially be persecuted for hiding a Jewish person, he still kept Max safe and accomidated him as best as he could.
I think that max has had the worst life in the book he has gone through so much. He was taken away from his family which is almost the worst thing that could happen to anyone, he was also forced to live in a basement. He was not allowed to even look out a window it was almost like being in prison if i was max i would not even want to live anymore.
i agree with Matt Hans seems like a great role model and father. I think you would be able to trust him if you ever needed him or if u needed to tell him something private he would not tell anyone. Hans is also very caring because he takes in max and treats him like one of his own and protects him from the nazis.
i was not sure to why as rosa was so grumpy and not more sympathetic towards everyone in the hubermans household but instead she was just mean to them and hans had to be the reasonable one and care for the family if Rosa was the only one living in the house she would have not accepted max into the house for hiding.
I love that every one has fallen in love with the Max character. Max is really a character that you feel something for. the way he is presented in the story it quite moving. First, him being a Jewish man in the land of Nazis. Second, his father being a hero saving Hans life. Third, he was a fighter who made a friend out of an enemy. I could go on and on about how the author greatly developed this character but there is no need.
But, I also think that a character that many people under mind is Micheal. Micheal is one of Frau Holtzapfel's sons. He was the one that served in the German Army. When he arrived at the hospital with his hurt arm and his brother, he saw is brother die. When he returned home he met Liesel and really affected her. I pretty sure that he was the one who influencing Liesel to have a smoke with him. It shows that in a way he helped her mature or i guess become a little immature since smoking is bad. The fact that he committed suicide just shows that he was a very emotional character who was traumatized by his brother's death.
I have read up to part 5 in The Book Thief and this is what i think about Rosa Hubermann so far. She's a character that is in the story to make the female reader sympathize with her. She gives a preview on what life was like for a woman during the Holocaust. She has recently shown change in her character. This could be because she lost her son and in a way has had him replaced with a much dangerous option. I think she also feels gulit over having her son replaced and she is very frightened of what might happen in the future. This is why she keeps "a cardboard face" as the author describes it. But lately, she doesn't swear and yell at people who have cancelled their ironing services from her, nor has she sworn at or hit Liesel. This leads me to believe that life is getting too much for her and that we might see a softer side of her. This also leads me to believe that the change in her character may come off suspicious to the world outside the Hubermann household.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Vesna's thoughts of Rosa changing. I think it's because she is very stressed with the hiding of Max and hoping everyday that no one will find out or that Liesel won't let anything slip. She hasn't been hitting Liesel, I think, because she understands how hard this has been on her, and she really does love her. Sometimes she just has an odd way of showing it.
ReplyDeletei agree. At the beginning of the book i did not like Rosa's character very much because of the way she treated Liesel. But now that all the hard times have begun she has changed and realized that she should be more understanding towards Liesel since it is probably really hard on her. Rosa was always worried about what might happen and hadn't noticed how it was all effecting Liesel as well, she just doesn't express or show her fear in the same way most people would.
ReplyDeleteI agree as well, it's very interesting how events can change a person. Especially someone like Rosa Hubermann, as I probably would have thought at the begginning of the book that Rosa was too stubborn to change, and if anything in the face of hard times she just would have yelled and pulled out the spoons even more. I really like the character that she's become though, she still manages to say everything that's on her mind and call everyone names, except now there's no doubt in the reader's minds that she does so lovingly.
ReplyDeleteI have read up to part 6 in the book and what i think about Max (the jew they are hiding in their basement)so far is that he is a very damaged character. not just from the way he speaks but even from the way he sleeps. He has been in hiding in a dark room alone for quite a long time so naturally he would be quite damaged and scarred and one of the ways that this shows is through the way he sleeps. He has trained himself to be quiet so unlike Leisel who screams out in terror from her nightmares, he just gives an anxious gasp.
ReplyDeleteI think that he is most connected with the character Leisel because they have both suffered trauma in their lives and that helps them to connect on quite a personal level.
The only change that i have seen in him so far is how he has opened up to Leisel. (This change goes for both of them). When he first came to Himmel street he just shut himself away and Leisel was quite scared to talk to him but once they started talking they became quite the pair of friends from what i can see so far in the novel.
I like the character of Hans Hubermann. He takes Liesel in as his own daughter and treats her very well. He helps her learn to read and traded his tobacco to be able to buy Liesel a christmas present. When Rosa was treating Liesel poorly he tries to protect her from that and will also ignore his wife when she is being unreasonable. He also doesn't agree with the nazi ideas which would be dangerous at that time.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning I didn't think I would like Rosa Hubermann at all. I thought she was going to be really rude and a bad person in general. But, throughout the book, I have grown to like her. She has been through a lot, having her son die, and now feeling like she is replacing him with Liesel. And now she is hiding a Jewish person in her basement which is really stressful and she could get into really big trouble if anyone found out. She is worrying that Liesel might slip up and let someone know that Max is in their basement.
ReplyDeletei think that Liesel steals books without really thinking when she does it. I think she almost has mixed emotions when it comes to stealing. when she is stealing a book she finds it ok but after she gets the book she feels bad and thinks about the consequences that could come from stealing the book, this shows that she is caring in a way but also confused.
ReplyDeleteI really like Hans Hubermann. He is a really genuine person. He's is extremely loving towards Liesel, he helps her with her reading, and takes good care of her. He doesn't seem to let the stress of having a Jew in his basement get to him. Hans and Rosa are a contrast, because Hans is such a nice, loving person and Rosa is harsh, she swears a lot and is kind of rude. Hans is also really respectful to everyone including Max.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sckylar completely. I think that the reason Hans and Rosa were created was for the reader to see the difference in the relationships between them and Liesel. It has been said already, but I see that Hans is supposed to be contributor of the positive aspects to Liesel and Rosa is supposed to contribute the negative and the independent qualities, making the Liesel character absorb these qualities and make them her own.
ReplyDeleteI find Rudy a very interesting character. He is a friend of Liesels and lives in the neighbourhood. He stands out to me for various reasons. I enjoy the realtionship that he developes with Liesel and the character traits he poseses. He is very persistent with things he wants, like trying to get Lieslel to kiss him and stealing food. He can also be a great friend, when he stood up to Viktor when he took Liesels book. I have really enjoyed how the character has developed throughout the beggining and im interested to see what else he will be involved in for the next few parts.
ReplyDeletei think that Liesel's foster parents care about her alot because they are hard on liesel. Rose seems like she is very strict and does not not have much of a sweet side but shes doing it because she loves her. Hans is a loving and caring father which is why liesel can trust her father more than her mother, also Hans helps liesel further her education by reading her books every night that liesel steals .
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ally, I think Rudy is a very intriguing character that isn't really essential to the book but he adds a very interesting twist to the novel. I probably couldn't imagine the book without Rudy now because he is just so different from the rest of them and I like how he does not take things nearly as seriously as everyone else, even though I think that is partially because he does not understand how serious everything that is going on around him is. He adds a side to this book that is light and airy and I really think he is a good companion and distraction for Liesel.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you guys were saying about Rosa, when she was first introduced into the book I thought she was going to be rude to Liesel and always hitting her always yelling and I thought I was never going to like her. But then once Max came into the picture she changed. She became nicer to Liesel and then it made it easier for me to read her parts because she wasn't so rude.
ReplyDeleteI have become very attached to the most recently introduced character of Max Vandenburg. His connection with Liesel is almost like a brother sister type relationship. I think the way the two interact is very appealing to me as a reader as it is interesting to see how she goes from being scared of him to what I'd say is falling inlove with Max. I also like how humble he is that the family has accepted him into there home to protect him.
ReplyDeleteMax Vandenburg is an interesting character. He is a Jewish man living in the Holocaust. He left his family, and never looked back so that he could find the Hubermann's and survive. I think he is a really good person because he doesn't complain about not having enough food or about the cold. And I agree with Riley what Riley said about Max and Liesel being like brother and sister and how he thinks that they are falling in love.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Riley and Schylar both said about Max Vandenburg. You definately feel true sympathy for Max, being left completely alone in the world. I think that he is a very genuine character, who tries to humble himself before the Hubermanns. They may have been able to give him a lot, but he was thankful for what he was given.
ReplyDeleteI find Liesel to be very sweet. She doesn't do things to make people angry and she avoids doing things that will get her in alot of trouble. But once she started to steal books it seems like something you would never expect from her, she seems so sweet an innocent. So it's nice to see a slight twist in her character. That she will steal books to furthur her education with reading, and because its something she really enjoys.
ReplyDeleteI like what Ally and Nicole said earlier about Rudy. He's definitely in the running for being my favourite character as I think that without his light-hearted presence and wise-mouth jokes the book might almost be too dark to handle in places. For me, his and Liesel's relationship is like this little ray of hope that pops up every few chapters when death focuses on them. He's a nice reminder that despite the fact that things are so difficult and bad where they are, laughs, happiness, love, and something as innocent as the want for a schoolyard kiss can still be found. I think his natural caring and kind behaviour towards others is also extremely important because it reminds readers that not every young man in Nazi Germany was a brainwashed lunatic. His character makes the story much more hopeful because despite all the horrible things going on in the novel, somebody just plain good and friendly like Rudy still exists and can be found.
ReplyDeleteI also really like the character of Rudy. He brings something different to the book that other characters have not. I really enjoy when he and Liesel appear together in the book because it's always enjoyable to see what he's going to do next. He's very intriguing as a character.
ReplyDeleteA character that is continuing to stick out to me is Hans Hubberman. I like the way he has developed and you are always seeing more of his true personality. Hes very caring, loving and brave. The part that made me see this was when he tried to give one of the Jewish people bread. In a way it was a really senseless thing to do but it showed how brave and caring he really was. He cares so much about his family and the people around him, no matter who they are. His actions have continuously proven this throughout the novel.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ally that Hans is sticking out in the book. I find him to be a very humble man who will stick to his morals no matter what the circumstance! Unfortunately I hate how he gets the short end of the stick and is forced off to war. Hopefully everything will go well though and he'll survive.
ReplyDeleteI think that hnas is a very brave man. He agrees to hide a jew in his basement risking getting caught. The consequences would be severe if he ever got caught. also when the jews were down the street he gives one a piece of bread even though he knew that there would be consequences. Those are just a few examples of how brave he is in the story so far. I really like his character.
ReplyDeleteAs I keep reading on further in the story I start to belive more and more that death is actually a good character. Even at the start when some of you were thinking that he was a good character I still didn't believe it until later. The reason being is that for my whole life death has always been made out to be a bad guy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Tyler. Hans isn't the type of man who fights in wars to show his strength and bravery, but he shows true bravery by doing what few were brave enough to do. For these, and a few other reasons, he is my favorite character. I really like the calming vibe that he seems to emit. He seemed to always be the character who can make a mountain of trouble feel like a molehill. For some reason, (I'm quite sure the author purposefully did it)Hans didn't have the same sort of calming feel, in my opinion, when he returned from the war. I'm not sure if I'm imagining it or not though.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Brittany said about Liesel. She is stealing the books to better herself and her education and that her stealing the books is an interesting twist. She is a very nice person. And she seems very grateful that Hans and Rosa took her in. She is also respectful and does what Hans and Rosa tell her to do.
ReplyDeleteI think Hans Hubermann was a very courageous character because he fed a jew in the middle of many people and nazi soldiers risking the chance of being hurt by a nazi soldier, also risking the chance of ruining Max's hiding spot in their house. He's also courageous because he went into war, and was hiding a jewish man in his basement. He was one of the characters I really enjoyed because he was very nice to Liesel and put himself in danger to help someone else.
ReplyDeleteAfter I finished the chapter, the thought of rudy naked. I start to get the feeling that Leisel is starting to fall in love with Rudy and she doesn't even realize it. I really like the relationship they have in the story. It adds another element to the book and adds some comedy.
ReplyDeleteI like how Liesel has developed as a character through out the novel. I like that she is able to overcome the hardships she has to endure without much complaining and feeling sorry for herself. I also am wondering why the fact that she has been stealing books has played such a large part in the book because so far it has not seemed that important to the story line.
ReplyDeleteI like Rudy's character, I also like his relationship with Liesel. He seems to like her so much and Liesel doesn't seem interested. He always tries to get her to kiss him. I like that when Rudy dies, she kisses him. Although his death was really sad, Rudy finally getting his kiss was very cute. I think Liesel might be falling for Rudy and she just doesn't know it yet.
ReplyDeleteI find Max a very interesting and sweet character. The reasons for this is because he creates a friendship with a little girl he is living with. He writes her stories about himself and her. He is very thankful for the Hubermann family for letting him live with them and he'll do anything to be out of the way, and for them to not get caught. For example him sleeping in the basement when it is very very cold, He ate Rosa's soup that wasn't very appetizing. etc. etc.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all the positive things that have been said about Hans Hubermann. He's one of those characters that is just everything good and likeable you could possibly think of. He's ruled just enough by his emotions to be relate-able, he's just wise and humble enough to be looked up to, yet still firm enough to be respected. Like Reid said, he's the type of man who shows real, true bravery in ways most others can't, and a truly selfless and unique person. I also love the way that death talks about his silver eyes and they way they melt and sharpen- it paints a really clear picture in my mind of who I think of Hans to be.
ReplyDeleteHans Hubermann is my favourite character. He is such a loving person, and he was written very well. The author made it very easy to feel for him and to relate to him. I think he is the real hero of this story. He has taken in Liesel and Max as a part of his family, and felt extremely guilty and unworthy of life after having to make Max leave. He is very sweet and compassionate, as displayed by his many acts of selflessness like giving the jew a piece of bread, and risking his own life for others on many occasions. He is very brave for facing the consequences of his actions - being whipped and sent to war. Hans is a very amiable person, as well as being generous. When the raids were starting, he would paint the windows of those who could not afford to pay with money, for something as small as a glass of champagne or a half cigarette, even though he barely had enough money to support Rosa and Liesel. I agree with Kelsey's comment about his silver eyes. The author does a great jov of using such a small detail to show very strong emotion in Hans. It makes it very clear to us as readers how Hans is feeling, even though we don't always get to hear his thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI really like death as a character in this novel. I like the narrative style he is given by Zusak with the clear and decisive comments with foreshadowing. Some of these comments made by daeth are are more sublte than others and seem almost meaningless as I would read over them without noting much importance in them. It wasn't until later when I was looking back in the novel that I picked out some of these foreshadows. Here is agood example of one the foreshadows; "The roof was flatand there was a shallow basement for storage. It was supposedly not a basement of adequate depth."(Pg. 32)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Matt i think that death is probably my favorite characters in the novel because of the way he foreshadows but also the way he shares his opinion on things. I think my favorite example of this would be when he says that he thinks that Rudy through the 100 meter dash because he wasn't Jesse Owens. I think thats an interesting way of looking at it that I don't think I would have thought of before death said it.
ReplyDeleteRudy has become my favorite character hands down. His carelessness and easygoing behavior seems like an escape from the dreariness of the war. I can't help but feel a sort of pity for him, because based a lot of his actions towards comforting, impressing and trying to win over Liesel and, in my opinion, she didn't really show very much appreciation to him.
ReplyDeleteRudy has become my favorite character hands down. His carelessness and easygoing behavior seems like an escape from the dreariness of the war. I can't help but feel a sort of pity for him, because based a lot of his actions towards comforting, impressing and trying to win over Liesel and, in my opinion, she didn't really show very much appreciation to him.
ReplyDeleteI felt very bad for Max in this novel. Because he was taken away from his family so he could live in the Hubermann's home, which was a very nice gesture but being torn away from your family is heart breaking. He had to hide in the basement, even in winter when it was absolutely cold. He wasn't able to go outside or even look out the window. And when he was forced to leave the Hubermann's home after Hans fed a jewish man. He was all on his own until someone found him and made him a part of the holocaust.
ReplyDeleteReid I think that the reason that Liesel doesn't show any appreciation to Rudy is that she loves him as well but does not want Rudy to know.
ReplyDeleteAfter finishing the book, I can say that my favorite character was Max. I not only loved his willingness and strength as a person but also his relationship with Liesel and pretty much everything else about him. He brought something to the book that was touching and showed the suffering and pain that the Jews had to endure through the war. Max was also my favorite character because of the things he taught Liesel and the special relationship, as I said that they had with eachother. He was almost like a big brother to Liesel, and I really believe that he had a special role in her life because she had gone through so much and so had he. Both Liesel and Max brought out the best in eachother and I really enjoyed reading about their friendship and love for eachother grow. My favorite scene in the book also included Max, which was when he and Liesel finally saw eachother once again after he had been taken to the camp and there was a Jew march. On page 509-515. This was my favorite because it really was impacting and showed so much about Max and Liesel as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think Max was a great character as well as a good example for Liesel. Having her foster parents take in a Jew knowing it is a huge risk, was a good lesson for her to do the right thing. Max was an amazing person. He cared so much about her and how they both loved to read. It was special of him to write all those stories for her.
ReplyDeleteI completly agree with Carmen. The way Max developed through the novel was really great. I really enjoyed what values he had and how he was able to connect with Liesel. The way Max was potrayed made the book have a more emotional feel, you could sense how he was feeling easily. He was different than the typical Jewish person hiding during the war in most novels. We were able to connect with him in many ways, relate with him yet see the pain and suffering he had to go through that we cant always relate with. I also really liked how Liesel interacted with him. The relationship that was bult kept me interested for the ending. To see what would happen after he left and was sent to the concentration camp. Overall Liesel and Max had the most impact on me. The emotions displayed by them kept the book interesting and showed a different side to the story.
ReplyDeleteIn the Book Thief my favorite character was Hans Huberman. I liked Hans because he seemed like caring and welcoming person. Chronologically, the first event I see Hans being caring is in his first war, when he goes to visit his war friend's family to notify them of Erik's death. When he was at their house Hans gave them his name and address and told the family that they could come to him if they ever needed help. Next Hans, basically made himself a father of Liesel by caring for her and making sure she felt at home when she first came to the Hubermann household. He stayed with Liesel when she would have nightmares, taught her how to read, and spent time with her and entertained her with his accordion playing. Hans also kept his promise to the Vandenburgs when Max came to the Hubermann's home and Hans welcomed him with open arms. Even though Hans knew he and anyone else in his house could potentially be persecuted for hiding a Jewish person, he still kept Max safe and accomidated him as best as he could.
ReplyDeleteI think that max has had the worst life in the book he has gone through so much. He was taken away from his family which is almost the worst thing that could happen to anyone, he was also forced to live in a basement. He was not allowed to even look out a window it was almost like being in prison if i was max i would not even want to live anymore.
ReplyDeletei agree with Matt Hans seems like a great role model and father. I think you would be able to trust him if you ever needed him or if u needed to tell him something private he would not tell anyone. Hans is also very caring because he takes in max and treats him like one of his own and protects him from the nazis.
ReplyDeletei was not sure to why as rosa was so grumpy and not more sympathetic towards everyone in the hubermans household but instead she was just mean to them and hans had to be the reasonable one and care for the family if Rosa was the only one living in the house she would have not accepted max into the house for hiding.
ReplyDeleteI love that every one has fallen in love with the Max character. Max is really a character that you feel something for. the way he is presented in the story it quite moving. First, him being a Jewish man in the land of Nazis. Second, his father being a hero saving Hans life. Third, he was a fighter who made a friend out of an enemy. I could go on and on about how the author greatly developed this character but there is no need.
ReplyDeleteBut, I also think that a character that many people under mind is Micheal. Micheal is one of Frau Holtzapfel's sons. He was the one that served in the German Army. When he arrived at the hospital with his hurt arm and his brother, he saw is brother die. When he returned home he met Liesel and really affected her. I pretty sure that he was the one who influencing Liesel to have a smoke with him. It shows that in a way he helped her mature or i guess become a little immature since smoking is bad. The fact that he committed suicide just shows that he was a very emotional character who was traumatized by his brother's death.
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