Q3 Outside Reading Post #6

In this part of the book, we learn that World War II has just begun.  It is now the big thing in Germany.  Markus Zusak writes, "The Fuhrer's voice roared from German radios.  We will not give up.  We will not rest.  We will be victorious.  Our time has come" (74).  This shows that the Germans are ready to fight.  They want to win this battle and will do anything it takes in order to win.  The action starts to begin too.  Zusak writes, "The German invasion of Poland had begun and people were gathered everywhere, listening to the news of it.  Munich Street, like every other main street in Germany, was alive with war" (74).  War has really started to take over Germany.  Everyone you went, there were soldiers patrolling the streets and your every move.  Everyone was identified and had there differences pointed out.  If you were not there definition of "normal" you would be killed or sent away.

Liesel, "the book thief", steels her second book at the beginning of the second part.  The narrator, who is still anonymous, sates facts about her book stealing.  Zusak writes, "First stolen book: January 13, 1939 Second stolen book: April 20, 1940 Duration between said stolen books: 463 days" (83).  I find this interesting because ever since Liesel has been at her new home, she hasn't stolen a book.  I wonder if this is because her "How to dig a grave" book is so important to her and that is the one book that she wants to focus on.  After every book Liesel steals, she seems to always get joy out of it.  Zusak writes, "When she looked back, Liesel was not ashamed to have stolen in.  On the contrary, it was pride that more resembled that small pool of felt something in her stomach" (84).  It is interesting that stealing doesn't seem to make her feel guilty inside.  She has such a passion for books that nothing could really make her feel bad about stealing.  As the book goes on, I wonder if her feelings towards steeling will change or how many more books she will steel.