Maybe we could try American Gods sometime??

Cellobella, thanks for that additional insight into The Book Thief. Actually, I’m a bit ashamed now that I didn’t do a bit more research into it as I knew there was a decent website. And yep, I know I write for the perfectly formed phrase, and I get excited when I manage one!

Matt: just read your Prince Caspian review and it looked like you and Sizzling Popcorn had fun doing it. Ken and I did ours via email which allowed for thinking time for both of us, and I’ll let you into a secret: Ken wrote a whole long response to my initial piece, so I went through it and threaded my own comments in and then we re-edited and added where necessary.
I enjoyed it though, and I think it’s an interesting way of reviewing a book – and I’d certainly do it again, so drop me a note through my contact form if you fancy a go. I don’t mind re-reading something I’m already familiar with, either. (My tags cloud will give you an idea of which authors I read.)

I’d love to do a review like this with you. Any book, but I’ll need some lead time to read. We can discuss this offline if you wish.

Hope you’re having an awesome day!

Matt Urdan’s last post: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

One of the things that stuck for me was that he said he writes for that one perfectly formed phrase.

Don’t we all!

Cellobella’s last post: A grand design

Tam knows that I thrive on abuse. He’s just throwing me a little snack.

A -’The Book Thief’ package looks quite a bit like ‘The Shadow of the Wind’ doesn’t it? I really wanted to enjoy that book… and really didn’t. Another similarly-packaged book is ‘I’m not Scared’ by Niccolò Ammaniti – that one, I really liked!

Cellobella – that’s a really interesting insight into Zusak’s process. I feel kinder towards him now that I know he worked it out on the page rather than in the marketing room.

Ken Armstrong’s last post: The Book Thief – Sharp Words Exchanged

I found this on the internet which explains his lightbulb moment:

“For more than a year, I tried everything to make the book work, but somehow it never did. I tried first person, third person, second person, shifting points of view, present and past tense, and none of it gave me what I wanted.

“Then I stumbled upon the idea of Death narrating the story, and it all made sense. Who is constantly hanging around in times of war? Who would have the opportunity to pick up a story penned by a girl in a bombed German city? Death was the right answer, although there were still a few decisions to be made.

“When I first brought Death into the story, he was sinister. He enjoyed his work a little too much. For months I wrote in this way and again I was falling short in some aspect I couldn’t understand. When I took a break from the book, I was sitting down on the back step and it hit me that Death should actually be afraid…of us.

“The irony of this was exciting, and it made perfect sense. Death is on hand to see the greatest crimes and miseries of human life, and I thought, What if he tells this story as a way of proving to himself that humans are actually worthwhile?

“At that point, I started writing and I didn’t stop…”

[http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/resources/MZ-TheBookThief.pdf]

I liked the death bit… but I agree with you that it takes a chapter or two to get into the story. And then, I loved it.

CB

I’ve never read The Book Thief, for the most ridiculous reason – the title reminded me of The Shadow of the Wind which I didn’t enjoy. Having read your review, I may just change my mind.

A.’s last post: Sunset

As for you Tam – do you have your handbag ready in case Ken takes umbrage?

Shame one of them was Ken’s.

Tam’s last post: Chiropodocracy

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