"I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right."
I finally, finally, FINALLY read this book and I have LOTS OF FEELINGS. I'm gonna go ahead and talk about spoilery things because the book has been out for 10 years and I feel like it's safe to talk about it.
I'm gonna talk mostly about the characters because they are always my favorite part of books. Liesel is the freaking best, honestly. We really get to see her grow up, but even from a young age she was very mature, because she was forced to be. I love her intellect and her quest for knowledge- she has to work so hard to learn how to read and she keeps going because she wants it so badly, and I admire that a lot. I also love that she's tougher than most of the boys her age, and she gets off of stealing things, which I guess isn't a great thing, but it makes sense given her circumstances and it was really interesting to see. It breaks my heart that she had to go through everything that she did at such a young age, and there aren't many people who could go on to live a happy life the way that she did.
Papa! Papa's the sweetest, greatest guy around. I love him. It amazes me that he stayed up with Liesel every night for so long to make her feel safe after her nightmares. The patience he has when teaching Liesel to read when he isn't the best at it himself was great to see. He was exactly what Liesel needed when she came to Himmel Street, and I love that. Also, obviously, he took in this Jew that he did not know at all, risking his life and his family's for this stranger that he sort of kind of indirectly owed a favor, and I think it's safe to say what he did for Max was more than just a favor.
MAX. MAX, MY LOVE. Honestly, the only good part about the ending of this book is that HE'S OKAY AND HE WAS REUNITED WITH LIESEL, AHHH, MY HEART. I love how he really becomes a part of the Hubermann family, and I just love everything about him, oh my gosh. Honestly, my favorite thing is that the relationship between him and Liesel is so mutually uplifting. One would think that he would help her more than she helps him because of the age gap but they really do both need each other and I love that. They bond so well because of their shared experiences and they can really understand each other like nobody else can. I love the books that he makes for Liesel! I thought it was so sweet, and I LOVE the imagery of him literally painting over Hitler's words and writing his own story over it to give to the girl who is saving him, OH MY GOSH. When he had to leave I cried and when he was whipped in front of Liesel I cried and when he found her all those years later after she lost everything and they fell to the ground and hugged each other I CRIED. I LOVE MAX SO MUCH, OKAY?
Then there's Rudy. FREAKING RUDY. I want to share a quote that Death says about Rudy that literally describes my life at the moment: "He does something to me, that boy. Every time. It's his only detriment. He steps on my heart. He makes me cry."
ME TOO, DEATH. ME FREAKING TOO. I loved Rudy so much right away and I was over here hoping that him and Liesel were going to grow up and get married but NOPE he didn't get to do either of those things. IT'S FINE, I'M FINE. Anyway, Rudy is best friend goals and I got so worked up and sad every time he got beat up because he couldn't keep his mouth shut. I love when he jumped in the lake to get Liesel's book and went book stealing with her and all of the other moments that I can't think of right now because I'm gonna start crying again. I just love him a lot and I wish he could feel Liesel's kiss because he loved her so much but IT'S FINE, I'M FINE.
The writing style was super unique and interesting and I loved it for the most part. I love that we got to see the story from Death's perspective, because it's something that makes perfect sense once you see it, but I would have never thought of it! He drove me crazy when he kept telling me that Rudy was going to die, though. Like, Death! Dude, I don't want to hear that my boy's gonna die, STOP TALKING ABOUT IT, AGHHH.
This book ripped my heart out and crushed my soul and I kind of hated the ending, but I do feel like it's a really beautiful and important book about an awful time in history. I did really end up liking it even though I cried for the last 30 pages, and I'm going to give it 5 stars because I can't stop thinking about it.
^^ Max and Liesel being reunited after everyone is safe
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