The Book Thief And The Words That Saved Her | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

The Book Thief And The Words That Saved Her

"She was holding on to the words who had saved her life.”

1337
The Book Thief And The Words That Saved Her
Pexels

Liesel Meminger does not live in a world that can be delineated in terms of black and white, unlike the pages of the books to which she is drawn. Growing up in the household of a kind man who tries to act with decency and honor, she learns how to “Heil Hitler” and how to hide a Jew. She discovers a compulsion to acquire books, even before she can read. The multitude of paradoxes within her heart-breaking story continues with every chapter and every page, with Death haunted by humans and Life preserved by scribbles on a dead tree.

Her attitude towards books and writing confounded me, because she stole books rather than food or something that nourishes the body. Yet she does not seem to gain the same pleasure from reading that I or any one of my bibliophile friends experience. She ends her memoir: “I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.” To be sure, I have hated some books I’ve read and absolutely fallen in love with others. I have prayed, especially when writing a research paper, that I have used language elegantly and masterfully. But I have never experienced the burning desire to acquire books instead of basic necessities. What possesses this inconsequential girl to value literature so highly?

As Death comes to take away everyone she holds dear, he remarks, “She was still clutching the book. She was holding on to the words who had saved her life.” With that, a stunningly simple truth emerges from the rubble of bombarded homes: The words have become human to Liesel. Watching Death visit her town repeatedly, she clings to the written word as something of more permanence than humans. Words live on where bodies break down and decay. Another paradox – Death finds her own words that she composed down in the basement where she survived desolation and keeps them well after he comes for her. Her own words live on through the curiosity of a lifeless being.

Even this story itself, ostensibly, embodies this survival of the written word as readers in 2016 can read about a young girl from the 1940s. She may not be real, but her story is. Whenever I find a truly engaging novel, the characters take on an authenticity that I can never foretell. They jump off the page and pierce my heart with their tragedies and elate my soul with their triumphs.

Words hold an incredible, incomprehensible power to transform your life. Just like Liesel, every human experiences a paradox of truth, fear, love and sorrow. Trying to express those feelings and thoughts often feels like trying to glimpse the side of the road through blinders. In that moment, the writings of another person provide clarity and perspective on what seem to be suffocating circumstances. I believe that Liesel craves books because she senses this freedom and transforming potential.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

181163
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

8078
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

453090
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23662
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments