Zusak accomplishes this with his clear skill for similes and beautifully descriptive metaphors, but the real kicker is the narrator. This book is narrated by Death. What an incredible idea!!!! This book not only touched my heart, but gave me incredible insight to the importance of the narrator. Not only that but the possibility of an unconventional narrator. The creative perspective for telling this story was opened full tilt by using Death as a third party observer to the events occurring to the characters. Death is able to take us places that we wouldn't be able to go if it had been told through one or even two of the characters. It is refreshing to read something with such spark.
Zusak is an artist of words. I enjoyed the theme paralleling the importance of words and books by show casing a book burning, having the main character develop a love for books, and emphasizing the power of words. I highly recommend this book from a creative standpoint, but also for entertainment. It is a story that opened my eyes to the tragedy of WWII for the Germans as well as the Jews. It inspires empathy and love for the fictional characters affected by the atrocities of war.
