Thursday, April 4, 2013

D is for Death

For the A to Z Challenge, I'm writing mini-mini character analyses on some of my favorite characters. If you're a first time visitor or a new follower, please let me know in the comments section.


D is for Death.

If you've read my posts before, you might already know that I have a little bit of a huge crush on Markus Zusak, author of my very favorite book, The Book Thief. The Book Thief is narrated by Death. We see Leisel's story through Death's eyes. Zusak's portrayal of Death is genius. Death is dark, literary and disturbing - but also incredibly vulnerable. The last line of the book is "Humans haunt me" making Zusak's character well-rounded, unexpected and original. I absolutely love Death's voice...like I love this book....like I love Markus Zusak.

Here's an example:

"The last time I saw her [the sky] was red. The sky was like soup, boiling and stirring. In some places, it was burned. There were black crumbs, and pepper, streaked across the redness.

      Earlier, the kids had been playing hopscotch there, on the street that looked like oil-stained pages. When I arrived, I could still hear the echoes. The feet tapping the road. The children-voices laughing, and the smiles like salt, but decaying fast.

      Then, bombs.

This time, everything was too late.
       The sirens. The cuckoo shrieks in the radio. All too late.

"Within minutes, mounds of concrete and earth were stacked and piled. The streets were ruptured veins. Blood streamed till it was dried on the road, and the bodies were stuck there, like driftwood after the flood.
     The were glued down, every last one of them. A packet of souls.
     Was it fate?"

And that ladies and gentlemen is why Markus Zusak is the only man I would leave my husband for. (Got a little carried away there - I meant to include a few lines and just couldn't stop typing....) 

Want more of Markus Zusak? (Because really who doesn't?) See "The Man I'd Leave My Husband For."

24 comments:

  1. Death has a great ominous voice. I can see why you enjoyed reading this.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree with Jean. Great excerpt. :D

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great description of Death from this book!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Excellent post and diddy.

    Hugs and chocolate,
    Shelly

    ReplyDelete
  5. awesome. I'm going to have to put this one on my list.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I keep seeing this book around-- I need to put it on my list (my ever-growing, overly-long list).

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love that book too...for some reason Zusak's work reminds me of Heinrich Boll. I like your theme!
    Kristi
    fellow A to Zer
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hee Hee I have several "next" husbands:P

    ReplyDelete
  9. This Zusak sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing this.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The Book Thief was my favourite read within the last 2 years! It's an AMAZING story!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Whoa!! Now I REALLY wanna read this book! Death, ironically, sounds so very interesting here! :) Good choice!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I picked up that book once, almost bought it, because I've heard so much about it, but I put it back down when I saw it was in first person. I'm sure it's not his fault and that it's a good book, but I'm so tired of everything written being in first person these days.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've heard a lot about that book but haven't read it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Markus Zusak is brilliant. But I have to wonder...what does Mr. Gabriel think of these posts? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I just finished reading The Book Thief. It was a brillant choice to use Death as the narrator especially considering the time and place the story takes place in. It was a sad read and if it wasn't for how the characters faced their dismal circumstances with such strength, love and humor, I wouldn't have been albe to get through the book. But, I'm so glad I did.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I've never read anything from Markus Zusak before but, Death is going on my Good Reads list right now.
    Thank you for visiting my blog. Happy Birthday to your dog!!
    Connie
    Peanut Butter and Whine

    ReplyDelete
  17. I loved The Book Thief so much. The first time I read it, I actually hugged it after finishing. I don't think a novel has ever moved me as much as that one.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Quite an excerpt. Heard loads about this, must read it!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love this book. I recommended it to my mom even, who was quite taken with it (she claims "all YA is stupid and fluffy and thoughtless, brain candy") and ended up using it for her book group! SUCCESS!!!!!!! :) Great pick, Kimberly!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love it as well. I recommended it to someone, saying it was my favorite book of the year. I finally had to ask for it back because she had it for weeks. When I asked what she thought of it, she said she 'couldn't get into it' and had stopped reading after a few chapters. ARRGGH!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. HOLY HANDBASKET! I JUST finished reading that book, and I have had NO ONE to discuss it with!!! That was the most fascinating, literary read EVER. His vocabulary... swoon. I have no idea what he looks like, but Death as a character was just over the moon.

    GREAT blog post today! Death... yep. Vulnerable. How could we ever feel sorry for Death? By making him hate his job. Loved it.

    Dana
    Waiter, drink please!



    ReplyDelete
  22. The Book Thief is one of my all-time favorite books. You have good taste in literature and writers, it seems.
    Fellow A-Zer, Jagoda from http://www.conflicttango.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Even I developed a little bit of 'huge' crush on Markus Zusak after reading your post!! Haven't read the book yet...but it's sure on my reading list now!! :)

    Regards
    ~Kriti~

    ReplyDelete
  24. I really need to read this one. I even have it now, but I'll have to see if I can get it read before it's due back at the library.

    ReplyDelete