Do you remember last week sometime when I told you all I was reading this book? And that I thought it was pretty good.
I retract that statement.
It was taking me weeks to get through The Paris Wife, and I just couldn’t take it anymore. So I stopped. I always encourage my kids to abandon books if they’re just not feeling it. So I finally decided to take my own advice and put it to rest. For those of you who enjoyed it, I’m sorry. I just could not invest myself into the book.
Instead, on Friday night I picked up a different book. Yeah, you know your life is wild and exciting when the highlight of your Friday night is picking out a new book. A few weeks ago Katie and I did a little book exchange so I have had a stack ready and waiting for me when I needed a new book.
I chose a winner.
I have been thoroughly enamored with The Book Thief for the last three nights. In fact, I’m about 1/2 of the way through it – at almost 600 pages, that says a lot about how much I love it.
The thing that drew me in so quickly is that the book has quite a different narrator. The narrator is Death. The book takes place in the heart of Nazi Germany in the late 1930’s and follows a little girl named Liesel who is placed in a foster home at the beginning of the book. Liesel, while not Jewish, lives in a home that is not a part of the Nazi Party. The book follows Liesel’s journey coming into her own with a new family, new hardships, and hiding a Jewish man in their basement.
Oh – and she steals books. (Duh, the book thief).
I am so glad I picked this one up, but I don’t want it to end! It’s quite captivating, and however morbid it may be, I am obsessed with WWII and the period of the Holocaust.
Next on my list? The new one by Jodi Picoult. I just have to wait until my mom is finished reading it on her iPad – I have her Kindle for when she buys a good one! 
Don’t you love moms?
Question: What is the best book you’ve read recently?
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
The Book Thief got best book at my book club one year. The premise is so unique. Although I read it years ago, images stay with me and isn’t that the tell-tale sign of a good book? I just finished Our Daily Bread by Lauren B. Davis for book club. The subject matter is quiet horrendous, but I really enjoyed it. We tweeted to the author (and she tweeted back
)which really added to the discussion. I, also, really enjoyed Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters. It was a book for work (middle school) but I loved it. It’s part of the Seven Series.
I’m on March Break this week and picked up The Aviator’s Wife. I never used to like historical fictin, but my tastes have changed. Have you read The Baker’s Daughter? If you like WW II, you will enjoy that.
This was a book I did for a book club as well. I was skeptical the first chapter or so… but it definitely became an obsession after that… I couldn’t put it down!
Jodi Piccoult has a new book out?! I need to find this! I love her!
I actually struggled to get through book, similarly to your experience with the Paris wife. I felt like it took a while to get moving, but the characters (especially the father) were worth it.
Enjoy!
I’m currently trying to finish The Hobbit so that Vishnu and I can watch the movie (he made a deal with me that we could only watch the movie if I finished the book)! I’ve also started reading a little bit of The Happiness Project - love it! Lots of great tips and tricks.
Don’t feel bad about abandoning the Paris Wife - I quit before finishing, too - and I ALWAYS finish books. I couldn’t take it. As for The Book Thief - amazing and read it in a weekend. You should also try The Night Circus if you haven’t already!
I love that you encourage your students to abandon books that they are not interested in after they have given them a good effort/try. Not every book is going to be for every person. Nice job!
My favorite books that I have read/am reading lately include: What Alice Forgot and Gone Girl!
I picked up the Paris Wife months ago and only read a few chapters and then forgot about it. It just didn’t grab me at all either. Glad to hear I’m not alone, because so many people seem to like it! I’m in a book rut right now. I’m trying to find authors similar to Gillian Flynn; I tore through her books!
I love Jodi Picoult’s books. She always intrigues me on the first page. I actually met her at a book signing (super nerd over here) and she is super sweet!
I am so glad I wasn’t alone in hating the Paris Wife. The book was awful, I forced my way throw it because I had heard good things and kept hoping it would get better but I thought it was awful! The book thief I LOVED such a good read!
I actually liked The Paris Wife.
But I LOVED The Book Thief. It’s definitely one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading it. It’s one of the few books that made me cry.
I’m about 3/4 of the way done with The Book Thief and am absolutely loving it! I think the narrator’s perspective is interesting and I like the added history. I actually liked the Paris Wife, but everyone’s taste is different!
Sarah’s Key (although devastating) is one of my favorite books, this sounds right up my alley. Thanks for the recommendation!
I’m so glad that you recommended this book, because I have been eying it for awhile wondering whether or not it would be worth the read. On my GoodReads list for sure now!
I LOVE all Jodi Picoult books! I’ve read every single one except Picture Perfect, still need to get my hands on that one
I didn’t love the Paris Wife either! It ended so horribly too. Ugh.
But YES. LOVED the Book Thief. It’s amazing
OOO This sounds so good!! Going to have to download it
If you want a good Holocaust, WW2 book you have to read Obsessed by Ted Dekker. You won’t be able to put it down!
What is the new one by Jodi Picoult called!? I just recently stopped a book partway through too…why force yourself to read something you’re not that into? The best book I read lately is Unbearable Lightness by Portia De Rossi. I have read it quite a few times, but love it so much that I probably read it every few months.
Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens was SOOOO good! I had to find out what was going to happen and it didn’t disappoint! I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb is my all-time favorite book.
Whoa that sounds good! The last book that drew me in was probably a part of some YA dystopian series. No matter how old I get, I can’t seem to get enough. The Gone series especially had me invested. And I’m being very impatient waiting on the 3rd book in the Divergent series!
I agree, the Paris Wife was tricky, but I (think I) liked it. But if this is waaaay better, then I am waaaaay in.
Living in Germany myself I’ve read quite a few books on Holocaust and WWII myself, too. It might be a children’s book but have you heard of “Malka (Mai)” by Mirjam Pressler yet? Or read about Sophie Scholl? There are many recommendable books on the topic which is one I think everybody should be aware of - or at least everybody living in Germany. It’s important not to forget.
I’ll be looking into getting “The Book Thief”, too.
I’m in the middle of reading this book! I’m finding it’s hard for me to stay interested though! Does it get better after page 100 or so? And I just *got* that the narrator is death. #losing
Yes it gets so much better - hang on to it!!
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t get into The Paris Wife. I gave up and I never give up on books. I always feel like I have to finish them.
I loved The Book Thief too!