The Floating Book/Death's Diary/The Snowman

In December, Liesel and Rudy avoid running into Franz and one of his friends on a walk. I think they are scared of him. Liesel really likes "the whistler" and carries it wherever she goes. Viktor takes Liesel's book and throws it in the river. Rudy asks for a kiss, after retrieving the book for her. I think Rudy tries too hard.

death goes on about how his job has ups and downs, and how it takes a lot of effort to be him. He explains that some years are worse than others. He says that humans don't have any idea what he is actually like. For example, Death doesn't have a scythe or a sickle; he only wears a hooded black robe when it's cold, and he actually looks human. He is not as dark and gloomy as we think he is. 

Can you see the difference? We have wild imaginations.

He discusses 1942, and how the bodies multiplied and how war became "his boss". War wanted more and more deaths. Death admits that there are good moments. He says that the book thief's life is one of the good things. I don't think death is particularly happy with the way things are for him, but the book thief makes him feel better.

This chapter makes death seem more human, and less like a faceless skeleton holding a scythe. In this chapter Death is more open about his feelings toward humans. He also brings up the idea of lightness and darkness. He uses an Liesel as an example, of lightness.

Lightness                       Darkness

On Christmas Eve, Liesel brings Max some snow from outside. Eventually they get into a snowball fight, and then Rosa and Hans join in. After the snowball fight they build a snowman. Even though it melts they will always remember it. I think that it is great that they are bonding again, and i wish they would do fun activities like this all the time. Max starts to get sick, and Liesel thinks it is her fault. In February, he collapses and is brought to Liesel's room. 

This chapter shows how Liesel wants Max to experience what is going on outside even though he has to stay in the basement. It was sweet of her to bring him snow, and everyone enjoyed it. It is like a happy moment before the sadness of Max getting sick. Liesel feels like she hurt him when she was trying to help. Hans tries to convince her that she has nothing to do with Max's sickness, but she does not believe it.

The Whistler and the Shoes, Three Acts of Stupidity

This section was so interesting because Liesel and rudy steal a book on their own. Liesel decided to steal from the mayor. In this section she gets the title of "The Book Thief". Liesel and Rudy's relationship continues to develop. Rudy tries to steal from a store, and almost gets arrested, but he gets a teacher to lie and tell the store owner . He gets kicked out of the store. He also refuses to answer the date Hitler was born. Rudy throws a rock at Franz, and starts to not attend his youth meetings. Rudy, and Tommy join a new division, and he correctly answers hitler's birthday. The fight between Rudy and Franz resembles the fight between Max and hitler, because it is good against bad.

As we get farther into the book, more characters are starting to get darker, and do more violent and wrong things.

Swapping of Nightmares

In this chapter, Max moves to the basement, and continues to feel guilty for leaving his family and for putting Hans, Rosa, and Liesel in danger. He also feels guilty about wanting to live. They use drop clothes and paint cans to hide him. Liesel is reading The whisper. Max, and liesel talk about their nightmares.

This chapter was really interesting for me because Max and Liesel's develop a relationship. At first Liesel pretends he is not down there, but then she is told to bring him his soup, and she finds out he is reading an interesting book, but she does not have the nerve to ask him about it. When she finally asks him about it they connect through stories, their love of books, and their nightmares. I wonder if Max will be found. And if he is found will Liesel will try to get him back?