The Book Thief

            "Your beliefs either pave your way to success or block you."

                                                                       - Marsha Sinetar

           

            People have many different beliefs. Some believe in God, others don't, and others believe in many. Truth is, we all have something we believe in. Whether it's freedom of speech, or racial freedom, we have our own way interpreting things. "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak is a searing and haunting book set in the period of the Nazis when Jews were considered discrimination among others. A little girl, Liesel Meminger, discovered "The Grave Diggers Handbook" soon after she lost her younger brother, and shortly afterwards, her mother. Since then, she has had to start her life over with completely new people where she battles against her rights and her wants. Throughout the story, there are certain events that change Liesel's beliefs on various things, and throughout the story I have come to a realization that those changes are good and meaningful.

           

            Death has been a big influence on Liesel and her beliefs on life. As a child she lost her brother and her mother and soon she loses many other loved ones. In the story Liesel states “It kills me sometimes, how people die.” (464) She was reflecting on her brother and her mother (who has not died but is practically dead to her). Throughout the story, the narrator reflects on Liesel’s thoughts. To this he replied “You see, to me, for just a moment, despite all of the colors that touch and grapple with what I see in this world, I often catch an eclipse when a human dies. I've seen millions of them. I've seen more eclipse than I can remember.” (11) The narrator implies to have seen Liesel’s brother slowly die, and her mother fade away from her side. He implies to have witnessed many deaths. Her brother’s death changed Liesel to recognize that no matter what, life moves on. She decided that she had no choice to move on with it. This was really surprising to me because Liesel was only 9 years old when this occurred, yet she had the will power to start over in her life. In another scenario, Liesel witnessed the death of her best friend, Rudy. That one moment made Liesel realize how much she loved him, and how she should have told him when she had the chance. It made her realize that in life, she has no one but herself. It changed her belief of depending on others for things that were important to her. She grew strength and courage to move on. The narrator, who was a witness, stated “It amazes me what people can do, even when streams are flowing down their faces and they stagger on, coughing, and searching, and finding.” (535) Liesel showed me how strong people can be, she realized, and helped me realize, that death can have a strong influence on people. To conclude, I believe Liesel has been through a lot, and it amazes me how she can be strong enough to start over.

            “The Grave Diggers Handbook” is also a big reason for Liesel’s changes in beliefs. The book holds a deeper meaning, it held the memories of her brother and her mother, and the last time they saw each other. Because of the book her life changed deeply. Firstly, it gave her the motivation to learn. She did not care much for it at first, but after she found the book, she longed to learn and read every single word in it. Secondly, the book drew her closer to her foster father, Hans. He taught her how to read and write, and soon their memories were stored in that one book. In the story, Markus Zusak states, “The book. The words. Her fingers were bleeding, just like they had on her arrival here.” (534) Although, it is pretty clear on Zusak’s intentions on these three sentences; I believe it is referring to the first time Liesel found the book. Her fingers were bleeding (from digging for her brother in the cold snow) and she discovered the book only moments later. The book holds her aspiration for education and her growth in it too. Moreover, I believe the “Grave Diggers Handbook” has great significance in her changes in beliefs in education.

            Moreover, throughout the story Liesel’s beliefs on life and education changed, and the narrator reacted in very astonishing ways. As life goes on, Liesel helped me realize that, we will not have time to look back unless we feel it is the right thing to do. Sometimes we just have to move forward in life no matter what happens. She also taught me that education and knowledge are powerful things that can come to many uses in the future. Sometimes, knowledge can be the care taker of all your memories. Moreover, I have learned that in life, when seeking education you are sealing away the past and gradually working towards the future, as did Liesel in “The Book Thief”.