Prologue: A Mountain Range of Rubble

Death and Chocolate

What a great start to a book! I love the beginning, 'first the colors'. Something about it seems kind of different. No one has ever started a book this way. It is so new and different, what will happen now? And also, what an interesting title to start out the book. "Death and Chocolate" I wonder what will happen in later chapters... 

I also found it very interesting that Mark Zusak writes in the perspective of death. This takes lots of skill to actually give a new view into what "Death" thinks. Also, what is up with the small fact that you are going to die? I think that to death, it is just another thing. You also have so much life ahead of you so you don't need to worry about death. 

Lastly, what does a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery have to do with each other? I have a theory that maybe the Jewish fist fighter will be the thief, but it could be the girl. I am not quite sure. But, an accordionist? What does that have to do with anything? It is almost as if that is to throw the reader off. Maybe the person can play the accordion, but it isn't their job. 

'First the colors'

This line speaks for itself. Death sees the colors of the human before taking them, then he sees the human. Or at least he tries. Death is really open about death, like it is just another thing, like getting a new room or seeing your old friend. I wonder why Death looks at colors first? Is this foreshadowing? Will colors be important later in the book?

I think there is a bit of foreshadowing here. If colors weren't important, why would they be mentioned. Death also says he likes a dark chocolatey sky, why? Why does it suit him? How many colors does an average person see in a day? It is probably quite a lot. So, for Death to look at the colors first, that must be a lot to take in.

Beside the Railway Line

Wow! Death is describing white as a color?! It is a shade, right? Maybe not, but it is interesting because he says not to argue with him, but in the previous section he said he was agreeable. Hmm... Sorry, but I am still very much stuck on calling white a color. White is a shade because it is not possible to make it out of the primary colors. So why is he telling us it is a color?

Also, in the other section, one of his "A's" was agreeable, yet he threatens the reader not to argue with him. And then, there is a part that says that he is all bark, no bite. Death! You are giving the reader mixed signals. You need to make up your mind.

I also wonder who the corpse is. It sounds like it is a brother or a father. But is this really important? Or is it just another death? Where were the people headed anyways? It is really funny to picture a skinny, tall guy and a fat, short guy. There are a lot of foil characters so far. Is this more foreshadowing, or just telling us something?

A Reassuring Announcement 

Wow, he needs to make up his mind. That was a total threat... from a book?! Death has a constantly changing personality. Interesting how Death has a changing personality. I thought only real people had true personalities, but it seems like Death has true feelings, too. I wonder if Death will develop more as we get farther into the book.

This also doesn't seem like a very "reassuring" announcement. Will things like this continue? Or is it a one time threat? I am really interested to se what happens. I wonder what will happen next!

The Eclipse

So, Sometimes he arrives too early? Then how does he get to all the other souls? Also, how does the book thief get around so fast? I love how death says that 'smoke was leaking from both its lungs.' Does a plane have lungs? But I am really wondering who the book thief is. A girl or a boy? Young or old?

I thought Death wasn't supposed to focus on the humans. It seems like he is starting to have a growing interest in the book thief. I know the book is about the book thief, whoever he or she is, but right now, it seems like it is all about Death. 

Death also says he has seen multiple eclipses. I have only seen two or three. Why has he seen so many? He says he sees them when a human dies. He also says he has seen too many to care. I like having the thrill of getting outside at just that right time to see it, rather than seeing it every time someone dies.

Some Other Small Facts

Death rushes... wonder why...who was the pilot? I wonder why people cling on to life longer than expected. Does death not control when you die? If so, why not... Who decides if it is not Death?

It seems that Death is a little impatient when it comes to waiting for someone to die. Is this because he has a tight schedule, or he is just impatient. I think it is just being impatient, not that Death has a busy schedule.

The Flag

So, there are different signatures for colors? Red is a rectangle, white is a circle and black is a windmill thing. Why? Interesting... Also, I love the line ' on the street that looked like oil-stained pages' Oil stained pages...Hmm... Wait! Aha! Red, white, black! Rectangle, circle, windmill thing! The Nazi flag! Wow!

I can't believe I didn't see this! I wonder if there is supposed to be foreshadowing here. Why the Nazi flag. I mean, what happened was most likely caused by Nazis, but why? Why do Germans like fire so much? They seem to always be mad about something. Maybe fire is their way of getting their anger out.

But That Was Not Allowed

Why isn't death allowed to talk. Doesn't he get lonely not being able to talk to anyone? I mean, I know he gets to see the world but I would rather be able to talk to whoever I want then not being able to talk but see the world...

It would just be so awful to not talk to anyone, doing your job silently. Ugh. I would EXPLODE. Funny thing, I am German. If I couldn't talk, I would EXPLODE. Is their a connection there? :)