“Having your book turned into a movie is like seeing your oxen turned into bouillon cubes.” – John le Carre

Simply stated, this writer’s opinion is that the book is almost always much better than the movie. However, this is a matter of subjective opinion, rather than an objective fact. Your opinion is just as valid as mine, so it’s perfectly fine to disagree!

Last Sunday, Dee and I discovered an exception to this general rule, at least in my opinion. It was her birthday and in the evening hours, she stated that she would like us to watch a movie. Well, it was her birthday, so I asked her, “What would you like to watch?”

She replied, “The Book Thief.”

Well, I had never heard of this movie, but since it was her birthday, I said, “OK. Let’s watch it.” All the while, I was wondering what this film was about.

Now, it might just be that you also wonder what this film is about, so I will – of course – tell you, but without giving away more than is necessary. I wouldn’t want to spoil it for you!

The story begins in 1937, somewhere in Nazi Germany. The main character is Liesel, a twelve-year-old girl who experiences the loss of her father, her younger brother, and her mother. She is present at her brother’s burial and steals a book that falls out of a young man’s pocket. Liesel seems to treasure the book, but she has never learned to read. The Book Thief must learn and through the efforts of kindly people, her journey to literacy begins.

So then, Dee and I were watching the movie and enjoying every moment. It’s not easy to find a well-produced film these days, but this one was outstanding. I began looking online for additional information while also watching the film… research, if you will. I know – I’m just different – Ha!

I discovered that the movie is based on a book by the same name, written by Markus Zusak, copyright 2005. It is an international bestseller that has been very well-reviewed.

As the film came to a close – and in a very touching manner – Dee and I talked about the film for a few moments and I said, “Let’s order the book!”

Amazon is easily accessed, so she ordered the book immediately. It arrived the next day!

The dust jacket design is outstanding, but the image above does not reveal the high quality of the texture, or the true coloring of the lettering, which is a beautiful metallic gold.

I unreservedly recommend The Book Thief as an outstanding story, one that is unique, including the narrator, as he tells the story in a fascinating blend of first and third person perspective. Oh, did I tell you? The narrator is Death… yes, Death, himself. Hence, you now grasp the meaning of the ghostly figure of the hand on the cover.

So then, in this case, is the book better than the film version? Well, that’s a matter of conjecture and I can only suggest that you watch and read, or read and watch in order to make a personal determination. After all, your opinion is just as relevant as mine!

© 2026 Jeffery J. Michaels / Plain English Publications
(Quotations allowed with attribution to this blog)