THE BOOKTHIEF by MARKUS ZUSAK (2006)

Title: The Book Thief

Author: Markus Zusak

Pages: 552

Published: Mar 14th 2006

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

We'd have this book lying around the house for some while. I know my mum had tried to read it but didn't really get caught up in it. I considered it for a while, but I've never really been into WWII books. We then got a list from the school about books to read over the summer and it was on that list. So I thought well, why not.

I was captured. I cried so much during this book. So much. But I laughed as well. If only Rudy could have gotten that one kiss. If only Max had not gotten so sick. If only that bomb hadn't dropped just then. If only...

Full with emotions, ideas and messages this book is worth a read. No matter if you like the genre or not. It is not actually that much about the war, but more about the relationships built up in the novel and they're not boring but full of joy and heart break. Definitely worth a read. Definitely.

Plot Summary:

Here's a small fact

You're going to die.

1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding it's breath. Death has never been busier.

Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family of Himmel Street. Her parents have been away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants on her street when the bombs begin to fall.

Some important information

This novel is narrated by Death

it's a small story about:

a girl

an accordionist

some fanatical Germans

a Jewish fist fighter

and quite a lot of book thievery.

Another thing you should know

Death will visit the book thief three times.

Favourite Quote:

The only thing worse than a boy who hates you: a boy who loves you.

My Rating:

10/10

I know I say this a lot, but I feel very strongly about this book. 

STEALING SNOW by DANIELLE PAIGE (2016)

Title: Stealing Snow
Author: Danielle Paige
Series: Stealing Snow #1
Pages: 375
Published: Sep 30th 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens


This e-book was given to me for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My opinion about this book is mixed and there were moments when I really enjoyed it and then moments when I just wanted it to be over.

This book is based on the fairytale of the The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson and I was dumb enough to assume it was based on Snow White. Paige did trick the reader slightly to believe this and it was clever enough for me to laugh at myself for being in the wrong.

I found the plot a bit confusing. First she was in the mental hospital Whittaker and as she entered Algid she was taken care of by the River Witch and her apprentice Gerda along with her friend Kai. I liked this bit of the story and found the characters gripping. I wanted more.

But as soon as it had started Snow then moved on to the Claret, the head quarters of the Robber Girls where the plot seemed to change. I did not enjoy this part of the book as much and it felt like it was just dragging along. There were too many strange magical things that I just didn't enjoy reading about. I'm just simply not a fan of purple pasta that tastes like chocolate. The Robber faces creeped me out and reminded me out the house of Black and White in 'The Song of Ice and Fire' series by George R.R. Martin.

The ending had a plot twist which I couldn't decide whether I liked or not. It changed the plot, but I'm not sure if I was in favour of it or not. I wasn't left longing for more and I doubt that I will read the following books in the series unfortunately.

This book is suitable for the YA fantasy, fairytale retelling genre but I felt that it was too much for me. It all seemed a bit like a bucket of glitter had been thrown over this magical land and it all went a bit mental. I do enjoy magical lands, but this went to the extent that it wasn't believable and I simply couldn't immerse with the world. There is no lack of Paige's creative mind and imagination but I found that it went over board and I was overwhelmed with some things that I found bizarre. Unfortunately I found that this was the case with 'Dorothy Must Die', which I didn't finish for the same reasons.

Plot Summary:

First kisses sometimes wake slumbering princesses, undo spells and spark happily ever afters. 

Mine broke Bale.

Seventeen-year-old Snow has spent her life locked in Whittaker Psychiatric - but she isn't crazy. And that's not the worst of it. Her very first kiss proves anything but innocent...when Bale, her only love, turns violent.

Despite Snow knowing that Bale would never truly hurt her, he is taken away - dashing her last hope for any sort of future in the mental ward she calls home. With nowhere else to turn, Snow finds herself drawn to a strange new orderly who whispers secrets in the night about a mysterious past and a kingdom that's hers for the taking - if only she can find her way past the iron gates to the Tree that has been haunting her dreams.

Beyond the Tree lies Algid, a land far away from the real world, frozen by a ruthless king. And there too await the River Witch, a village boy named Kai, the charming theif Jagger, and a prophesy that Snow will save them all.

Favourite Quote:

"I took a bite of purple pasta. It melted in my mouth with  a delicate, sweet, almost chocolaty taste."

My Rating:

6/10

I took too many breaks while reading this book.