A Book Recommendation and a Revelation

So over the Christmas break I decided to re-read a book. As you know, I am not a big re-reader of books. I've read Gone With the Wind twice, and that was about 11 years apart, and I really love that book. And then there are a handful of other books I have re-read and that's it. But I had been thinking about this book for some reason, and then it was my turn to recommend a book for book club, so I chose The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Can I just say that I LOVE this book? That is big for me to say I love a book. I like a lot of books. I have enjoyed reading and discussing lots of books. But The Book Thief is one of those books that stick with you and changes the way you look at things.

I love the writing style in The Book Thief. It took me a little bit to get use to it at first, but the narration (which is by Death) is so unique. The way he describes things you can totally see it, feel it, taste it. Feelings sit on people's shoulders. Words drop at people's feet or are handed across spaces. Suns drip. Faces look like cardboard and accordions.There are so many beautifully written passages in this book I would go back and re-read inside of my re-reading. Death is witty, too. Who knew?

I love The Book Thief because of the story it tells. I recently found out that the inspiration for it came from stories the author would hear his parents tell of their experiences as German children during World War II.  There is so much beauty mixed in with the ugly. If I were to sum up the gist of what this book is about it is about the power of words, friendship, and the best and the darkest of the human race. I knew the story, what would happen to every single person, every single event that would take place, and I still cried, I still laughed and I still felt filled up. And I'm still thinking about it.

So just trust me. Read the book. Stick with it to the end and you won't regret it.


In other news...I just made a startling realization the other night:

I am a middle-aged 

suburban housewife...

in Kansas. 

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!