I’ve mentioned before that I have this expensive habit of buying a book based on the cover almost every time I go in a bookstore. The Book Thief is one that I’ve picked up several times over the last few years, but always found another sitting close by that I thought looked even better. It turns out none of them were.

One of the good things about working for a non-profit focused on literacy is that most of the volunteers have a big list of books to recommend, and when one volunteer said this was her favorite book, I knew it was time to give it a read. Convincing Nicole to choose it for our book club when it was her turn to choose made it even better, because that meant I got to pick two books in a row.

Here’s what I love about it:

• The protagonist is a young Jew in Nazi Germany. A good many of my favorite novels are set in Germany in the 40’s. I’ve only recently figured out why. Every good story needs a good conflict – man against man, man against self, man against machine, man against nature… – and there haven’t been many periods or places in recent history more ripe for conflict than Germany in the 40’s. The setting allows for huge themes to be explored: Betrayal and trust, the power of words, and the uncertainty of tomorrow to name a few.
• The book is narrated by Death, and he actually has a heart.
• The main theme of the book is words and how we can use them. Hitler uses them to stir up rage, and fear. Another character uses them to offer hope, and another uses them to paint pictures. I’m a logophile. If you are too, Christmas can be today.
• You learn a few German swear words.