Image Map

Films for Thoughts on Thursday: The Book Thief


This is a weekly meme that I am hosting here at Reviews from a Bookworm. To take part all you have to do is share a movie review once a week, link back to Reviews from a Bookworm and add your link to the linky tool.


This weeks movie review will be for:


The Book Thief


Confession: I didn't reread the book before watching the movie. This is important because you need to realise that this is a review of the film, not a review looking at the film as an adaptation. I have a terrible memory, so whilst I remember the fact that I absolutely loved the book, I actually don't remember much of the book itself. Without rereading the book before seeing the movie, I won't remember all the little details or the things that change. I did this on purpose, I am fed up of picking apart movies just because they changed something or left something out. This was a film that I just wanted to be able to enjoy it for what it was, I didn't want to pick it apart. I am so beyond happy that I didn't reread before seeing the film, I worry it may have spoiled it a little. I just watched one of the most stunning, beautiful, heart-breaking, uplifting and moving films that I have ever seen. I don't even care if they made a lot of changes or didn't, it was a brilliant movie and I loved it.

'One small fact. You are going to die. Despite every effort, no one lives forever. Sorry to be such a spoiler. My advise is, when the time comes, don't panic. It doesn't seem to help.'



If you're not familiar with The Book Thief, either the film or the book, then I will tell you a little about it. The story, as well as the film, is narrated by Death, who has become quite fascinated by a young girl named Liesel Meminger. As she travels on a train with her mother and brother in 1938, her brother dies and has to be buried at the side of the tracks. It is here that Liesel takes her first book, a gravedigger's manual that falls from someone's pocket. Liesel is being sent to live with the Hubermann family as her mother flees from Germany and the Nazi regime. The story and Death follow Liesel as she comes to know her new parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann and as she befriends Rudy Steiner, a local boy who is rather taken with Liesel. It follows Liesel through huge moments of her life and through a massive part of history, the Nazi regime and WWII.

The casting is perfection, I don't have even one complaint. I didn't have one problem with anyone, I thought they played the roles brilliantly. I thought that Sophie NĂ©lisse was perfect as Liesel Meminger, she's a fantastic young actress and I loved her as Liesel. Geoffrey Rush was Hans Hubermann, he was as sweet as I remember and so full of humour, I could not see anyone else in that role now. Emily Watson was genius as Rosa Hubermann, the stern mother figure who you can tell has that softer side hidden underneath all that scowling. Then two other people who I adored in this film would be Ben Schnetzer as Max and Nico Liersch as Rudy Steiner.

People, you don't even understand, how are you supposed to coherently explain all the feelings that you will get from this film. I can't even express all the heartbreak I feel right now, or the happiness and the hope and just everything. This movie, oh god, this movie! It's just too much. I had been nervous to see this film because I was really worried it wouldn't be good, but it's amazing. People who read the book right before seeing it will have to tell me if it's a good adaptation, I already know they left a few key things out. But from the perspective of someone just watching it as a film, not an adaptation, there is not one thing wrong with it.

'In my job, I'm always seeing humans at their best, and their worst. I see their ugliness, and their beauty. And I wonder how the same thing can be both.'

I took six pages worth of notes whilst watching this movie, and they are pretty much just nonsensical scribblings of a highly emotional human being. The characters just worm their way into your heart right from the very beginning, I could barely contain all my love for them. I was kind of weepy from the beginning because I know that this movie is going to make me feel far too many emotions in just two hours. I was right. Liesel is this headstrong girl, who starts out scared, alone and sad and it's just so heart-warming to watch her get to know and love the Hubermanns, Rudy and Max. The Hubermanns.... there are no words to describe these two. I want them to adopt me so I can live with them and have Hans play the accordion to me. Rudy is just as sweet as I remember, and his friendship with Liesel is just so sweet. My heart melted a little every time that Rudy asked Liesel for a kiss. Max, Max, Max, Max, Max! I think Max might have stolen my heart in this film, I don't remember him doing it to that extent when I read the book. I just can't express my love for Max, I want to pull that man from my TV and marry him.

That's it, I give up. I can't do it. I don't have the words to describe this movie to you. Just go watch it, please! I actually beg you all to go watch this movie, and I don't even request that you read the book first. I don't want you sitting there judging the movie and picking apart every little scene they change or scene they omit. This movie just needs to be watched and appreciated for what it is: beautiful!


10/10 Butterflies

Seriously, how am I supposed to tell you about this movie and how much I loved it. It was beautiful, heart-breaking, uplifting, amazing, stunning and perfect in every way. It made me laugh out loud, it made my heart almost beat out of my chest when I was scared about what was going to happen and it made me sob my little heart out. I had not one issue with this film, I thought the cast was perfect and there wasn't one thing I would change about it. The cinematography is brilliant, I really loved the opening scene where we start above the clouds and slowly make our way down through the clouds, across the snowy landscape and to Liesel on the train. I have been having the worst week and, even though this movie made me absolutely sob, watching this movie cheered me up so much.



I have been meaning to take part in both of the following memes for a while now, so its nice to finally be able to get to them. I will be taking part in Reading is Fun Again's Thoughtful Thursday and Okay, Let's Read's  Thursday Thoughts, picking between them or doing both topics each week.


The Power of Social Media

Have you ever connected with an author through social media? Do you think it's important to have things like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as a blogger, reviewer or author? Why or why not? How do you think social media has progressed and change the bookish world in recent years? And, now for a fun question: Are there any authors who's Twitter feed you just can't get enough of?


I find social media is probably the easiest way to connect to authors, and Twitter is probably the method I use the most often. I don't know if it's important to have a Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for your blog. I actually have all three, but I only really use Twitter. I am new to Instagram and still a little lost when it comes to that one. I also struggle with my blog's Facebook, as I don't really know what to post on there. I just find Twitter so much easier to use, even with the restriction to 140 characters. I think they are extremely useful if you now how to use them properly, I just suck at social media. I love Colleen Hoover's social media postings because that woman is just hilarious, her posts are always making me laugh out loud.


Book Swag

Does book swag inspire you to give the book a try?


I don't know, probably not. I think I am more likely to be more excited to get book swag for a book I have loved and read. I guess it depends on the swag though. I think it makes me more likely to go check the book up and see if it's something that interests me, not sure if it inspires me to give it a try though.




Dangerous Girls Dangerous Boys

I have read and loved both of Abigail's books, Dangerous Girls & Dangerous Boys. To celebrate the release of Dangerous Boys, I am giving  2 winners the chance to win paperback copies of both Dangerous Boys and Dangerous Girls. It's open internationally, as long as Book Depository ships to you!






Five Friday Favourites: Favourite Books I've Read Between April & August
My Weekly Book Haul: 23/08/2014
Magnolia by Kristi Cook: 3.5/5 Review
Mid-Year Book Freak Out
Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Want To Read But Don't Own
The Jewel by Amy Ewing: 2.5/5 Review

22 comments:

  1. Confession: I have not read The Book Thief and I don't much want to, only because no matter how good a book is supposed to be I can never get into anything set in the past. But now I definitely want to see the movie and who knows maybe it will inspire me to read the book!

    I linked up this week with a review of Divergent though I must say it was mostly me ranting about how slow I thought the movie was! =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you should definitely give the movie a chance, even if you're not a fan of historical fiction. It's a beautiful film, made me want to go and reread the book.

      Delete
  2. Book Swag, I'm really not that assed, is that a bad thing? Err, I dunno probably, but I'm not fused on bags, on bookmarks and such, actually, bookmarks is good, the rest is meh. Social Media, yus, I use Twitter and my Facebook is set up to automatically post what I do there, I also have Instagram but that's more on a personal level. I'd definitely say Twitter is a great way to use social media and promotion on a blog. Good answers :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me either, if I am honest. I am definitely more of a bookmark person. Ooooh, and TOTE BAGS! I died of excitement when I got a Throne of Glass tote, haha.

      Delete
  3. Yay! I loved LOVED this movie and I did read the book right before and I still loved it. It really was a great adaption of the book and the girl who played her was just gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She was so good, perfect for the part. I just want to go watch it all over again.

      Delete
  4. I have the book but I haven't read it yet so I'm holding off on watching the movie. I've been told the movie's really good though! I'm so tempted to watch the movie first haha :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Read it or watch it, both are amazing. The movie was just... AMAZING! I cried far too much though, it was embarrassing.

      Delete
  5. "I took six pages worth of notes whilst watching this movie, and they are pretty much just nonsensical scribblings of a highly emotional human being." This pretty much sounds exactly like how I felt while reading the book and watching the movie! Both are wonderful, full of love, and yet also heartbreaking. Great review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I cried so much watching this movie, it was really embarrassing. I loved it though.

      Delete
  6. I am right there with you about what to post on your blog's FB page! I've had mine up since last year and I so rarely use it. Instagram I just started using in connection with my blog. I love the filters for their app so I always have fun sharing new books that way :)

    I have found a number of great authors to follow on Twitter today because of this topic! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The blog FB is the one I just don't get, I don't really use mine very often. I prefer Twitter. I am just started Instagram but not sure what to do on there.

      Delete
  7. Oh man. I haven't been able to re-read the book yet, either. So that's why I've been holding off on watching the movie. But I think I am going to take your advice and just enjoy the film. All I remember is loving the book and sobbing. Lol. It's on Netflix right now, so I definitely need to make time to watch it this weekend. :)
    Twitter is definitely the easiest way to connect with authors. Most are very quick to respond or like your tweet. I also follow quite a few authors on Instragram and Goodreads. Oh social media, makes is so much easier to stalk your fave authors.
    Happy reading!
    Brittany @ This is the Story of My(Reading) Life

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I recommend just enjoying the movie for what it is, it was beautiful. I am going to be trying to get into Instagram more.

      Delete
  8. I love all the gifs you put in your posts, haha. You always pick the right ones!

    I don't use facebook for my blog either. Twitter, though, twitter's so easy to use. Re: book swag: I agree, I don't bother with swag for books I haven't read. I was super excited when Chris Holm sent me some bookmarks after learning I loved his books, though. And I would be excited for swag from Kameron Hurley's new book, because she's cool. But for unknown authors/books, naaah.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am a gif whore, I love them all! Facebook for the blog just doesn't work well, I never know what to post.

      Delete
  9. I'm the opposite on social media. I am on FB all the time and love it for the blog and interacting. Twitter...I suffer through. lol I auto tweet from FB and the blog there and will go in and reply back if someone tags me but that's about it. I have other social media--tumblr, instagram, G+, etc but am hit or miss with them if I actually log in and use them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't even really use my blogs FB, I just suck at it. I use my personal FB a lot though. I find Twitter is a lot better for the blog, I find it easier to use.

      Delete
  10. I thought about setting up a FB account when I started blogging this spring, but I feel like I wouldn't know what to do with it - like you said, Twitter is easier to use! I'm also afraid of losing even more time just browsing a social page instead of creating meaningful content for my blog / working.
    You reminded me that I haven't seen The Book Thief yet, so thanks! I have to remedy that soon, because I loved the book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have no idea what to do with mine, I use it very rarely now. Twitter is just so much simpler, haha.

      Delete
  11. I thought the movie was very well done, but it had been awhile since I read the book when I saw the movie.

    And I don't do any social media, but sometimes I think I should. But then I think about the time suck, and I just don't do it. If I did, I would probably use it to follow authors, but whenever I read about all of the drama going on with bloggers, etc. I'm pretty glad I'm completely clueless.

    And book swag…don't get it, to be honest. I love books, but everything else? Just clutter for me. ~Pam

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That movie made me cry so much, it was really ugly.

      I use Twitter, but it doesn't take up too much of my time. I don't really get book swag either, except for tote bags! I LOVE TOTE BAGS! :)

      Delete

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment, it always makes my day! Because of time restraints, this is now an award free zone but thanks so much for considering me! Feel free to leave a link to your own blog and I will come visit.