Part 6: The Dream Carrier

Death's Diary: 1942

pgs. 307- 310

Wow! This part is really funny! I love how he says that since we are human, we should understand self obsession. I love how he doesn't really like Hitler because he just causes more death which makes more work for him. Death seems kind of different in this chapter. Almost like he was in the beginning. A little more self- centered than usual. It is kind of interesting to hear about Death every now and then.

A Small Piece of Truth

pg. 307

I love this! I love that he says he doesn't carry a nickel or a scythe, he only wears a long hooded black robe when it is cold and he isn't a skeleton- like figure. It really made me laugh because that is not even close to how I pictured him. I wonder if other people did. I didn't really have an idea of what Death looked like, but I sure didn't picture him as a grim reaper type of person or whatever he is.

The Snowman

pgs. 311- 316

I love this chapter! I love that Liesel actually brought snow down to the basement just to make a snowman. This really made my heart melt. Kind of like Max started to when he got to cold. I am really worried about what will happen to Max. I think that it is to early in the book for him to die, but I could be wrong.

Christmas Greetings From Max Vandenberg

pg. 313

This is so cute! It seems like Liesel is really the best part of each day. It is so cute that she does thoughtful things and it not only makes him happy but he actually tells Liesel that it really makes his day when she does stuff like that. It really shows what a cute relationship that Liesel and Max have. I can't wait to read more!

Thirteen Presents

pgs. 317- 324

This is a great chapter. 'Feathers turned to twigs again' I love how not only does Zusak use the term 'feathers' but he also uses twigs. It worked really well because birds have feathers, but they also have twigs in its nest. Going forward, I also like that on her birthday, she told him that there was an enormous cake. What would she have done if he had woken up? Also, I couldn't believe that Death actually visited him late in the night. This would not be good.

I also like how Liesel says that a nun gave her The Whistler. It does seem like a kind of sinister book with a sinister story behind how it came to be. In this section, I like how Mama tells Liesel to score two goals, or don't come back. I wonder if Mama was hoping she didn't score two goal...

I also love all the little presents Liesel gives him. It really creates a cute, special moment. I think the feather has the best backstory.  I like how Hans says that the Whistler is really dark to have been from a nun.

But you'll come and get me if he wakes up, won't you? Just make something up. Scream out like I've done something wrong. Start swearing at me. Everyone will believe it, don't worry.

pg. 319

This is really funny! I thought that Mama would be so mad when Liesel said that but she ended up  laughing. It is really true that everyone would believe it. I hope Max does wake up, and Liesel will be so excited. Another thing I loved was that Mama accepted it. She didn't swear at Liesel, she just accepted that everyone knows that she is always yelling.

Fresh Air, an Old Nightmare and What to do With a Jewish Corpse

pgs. 325- 335

This chapter was very interesting. Starting at the beginning, I liked that Rudy has already gotten hurt and it is only the first page of the section. I also love the excitement of stealing another book. It is interesting to think that Frau Hermann is now leaving the window open purposefully. Also, what would you do with a Jewish corpse?

I cannot believe that Max is almost totally replacing her brother. But at least you know he is going to wake up seeing that on page 331, Death says 'for eight more days' I also love 'chlorine eyes' I can imagine what she looks like when she BURSTS into that classroom. She does a really good job of disguising that she is not mad. Everyone believed it! 

I like that his favorite present was the soldier. It really completes these sections. I love that he never wanted to fall asleep again. The last sentence is sad though. 'The bombs were coming- and so was I. :( I don't know how I am going to read the book when Rudy dies.

Very few people were out on the streets. Rain like gray pencil shavings.

pg. 326

This gives me a really cool visual. I can imagine gray pencil shavings falling from the sky. I think that Zusak does a really good job of explaining everything in a way that give you a really good picture of exactly what everything looks like at that moment.

 Death's Diary: Cologne

pgs. 336- 338

This section confused me a little. Anyways, I like how Death carries the children in his arms. I was kind of wondering how the ten- year- old girls survived and why they wanted the fuel. It was kind of weird. I wonder if it is foreshadowing something greater.

The sky was yellow, like burning newspaper.

pg. 336

This sounds really cool. I can imagine a burning newspaper, most likely from the Nazis. It would be hot and with one touch, could burn your fingers. I can imagine just how yellow the sky is.

The Visitor

pgs. 339- 346

OH NO!!! This was a really close chapter. Luckily, Max was saved all thanks to Liesel. This section had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I can't believe she actually got really hurt for Max. I love how Hans calls Rudy 'Mr. Steiner' after being called 'Mr. Hubberman'. I couldn't believe that Hans said 'Nothing' but it worked' 

Words fell like injuries from his mouth

pg.  345

This sounds really cool. I can imagine word by word, how it felt to be in the Hubberman household and being a Jew. I would feel relieved, thankfully, sorry, worried and everything else. I am just relieved everyone is alive.

The Schmunzeler

pgs. 347- 348

The WHAT? The shmoonzeeler? The skmundeler? I have no idea how to say that. Anyways, I couldn't stop laughing when Papa said that Rudy was Liesel's boyfriend. When someone mentions Rudy, I always think 'NO' because I don't want him to die. 

I wonder what Max said about Liesel having a 'boyfriend'. I also wonder if Max was listening in on the conversation. Overall, I just wonder what it was like to be Max at this part in the Book Thief.

Things were on the verge of decay.

pg. 348

This sentence is not good. It makes me nervous. What will happen next? We have another 200ish pages until the end, so Rudy can't die for at least another 100- 150 pages right? I hope so. 

Death's Diary: The Parisians

pgs. 349- 350

Wow. This chapter is really different than most. I kind of like the addition of us reading Death's diary every now and then. I especially like that they are kind of choppy. They seem like Death kind of just jotted them down really quick and went back to his business. Anyways, it seems like being Death might be kind of hard because you have to see everyone suffer or die. What do you think it would be like?

For me, the sky was the color of Jews.

pg. 349

What is the color of Jews? This seems like a really dark statement. Usually Death says the color, but this is obviously different. I wonder if all Jewish people have the same color if they die because of Hitler...