The Book Thief
ExistiMetric™: 610
The 550-page, World War II-era novel, narrated by Death, tells the story of Liesel Meminger from the time she is taken at age 9 to live with a foster family in a German working-class neighborhood. Liesel arrives having just stolen her first book, “The Gravediggers Handbook”—it will be the beginning of a love affair with books. 
95 Rated Reviews
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Optimus
Top 10 Highly-Rated Reviews-
1. Moira MacDonald
4.85
Moria MacDonald Offers Edgy Humor in “Too-Safe, Sanitized Adaptation” -
2. Colin Covert 4.83
Colin Covert’s “Warm Fuzzies and Holocaust” Hits Hard and Is a Good Read -
3. Duane Dudek 4.83
Duane Dudek’s “Good Intentions but a Weak Heart” Makes Fresh Points -
4. Rafer Guzman 4.8
Rafer Guzman’s “Too Rosy” Is Wonderfully Sardonic -
5. Tim Brayton 4.75
Tim Brayton’s Wonderfully Caustic “Life During Wartime” Is Sheer Pleasure -
6. Jeff Meyers 4.7
Jeff Meyers’s Blunt Style Is Perfect for His “Wartime Coming-of-Age Drama” -
7. David Denby 4.65
David Denby’s “The Book Thief” Manages to Be Whimsical and Funny -
8. Katherine Monk 4.63
Katherine Monk Brings a Fresh Outlook to “Wants to Steal Your Heart” -
9. Tom Long 4.55
Ton Long’s “Might Steal Your Heart” Is Quite Splendid -
10. Thelma Adams 4.55
Thelma Adams’s “The Book Thief” Is Unabashedly Gleeful
Pessimus
Top 10 Poorly-Rated Reviews-
1. Stephen Holden 2.13
Stephen Holden’s “A Refuge Found in Pages” Is Shoddy and Plot-Filled -
2. William Bibbiani 2.25
William Bibbiani’s Real Approach Turns to Rant in “Review: The Book Thief” -
3. Harvey S. Karten 2.28
Harvey S. Karten’s “THE BOOK THIEF” Leaves Some Holes -
4. Steven Rea 2.38
Steven Rea’s “‘The Book Thief’” Is Muddled With a Rushed Ending -
5. Liam Lacey 2.4
Liam Lacey’s “The Book Thief” Leaves Its Audience Unsatisfied -
6. Laura Clifford 2.5
Laura Clifford’s “The Book Thief” Is Unorganized and Flat -
7. Robert Roten 2.58
Boring Plot Synopsis Overshadows All Else in Robert Roten’s “Book Thief” -
8. Doris Toumarkine 2.63
Doris Toumarkine Sticks Too Close to Convention in “The Book Thief” -
9. Richard Corliss 2.63
Richard Corliss’s “The Book Thief” Is Inaccurate and Muddled -
10. Susan Granger 2.75
Susan Granger Fails in the Details in ““The Book Thief””
Chorus
75 Other Reviews-
Dennis Harvey 4.53
Dennis Harvey Makes the Day a Little Brighter in “‘The Book Thief’” -
Ben Sachs 4.5
Ben Sachs’ “The Book Thief “Is Near Perfection -
Claudia Puig 4.48
Claudia Puig’s “Steals the Substance” Pulls No Punches -
Jamie S. Rich 4.4
Jamie S. Rich’s “Hollow Adaptation” Is Well Thought Out -
Nancy Churnin 4.4
Nancy Churnin’s Fresh “Eloquent Job” Offers Welcome Insights -
Adam Markovitz 4.38
Adam Markovitz Makes Every Word Count in “The Book Thief” -
Brian Tallerico 4.33
Brian Tallerico’s “Fails to Find Tone” Finds Its Own Tone Nicely -
Chris Knight 4.33
Chris Knight’s “Beautiful and Frightening” Offers a Different Perspective -
Rick Bentley 4.25
Rick Bentley’s “Nelisse Steals Hearts” Is a Solidly Written Love Affair -
Bilge Ebiri 4.2
Bilge Ebiri’s “Chatty Grim Reaper” Does Not Lift Your Spirit -
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul) 4.18
Chris Hewitt’s “Needs a Tough Editor” Marred by Pretentious Ending -
Tony Hicks 4.15
Bravo for Tony Hicks’s “‘The Book Thief’” -
Tasha Robinson 4.15
Tasha Robinson Gives a Spot-on Performance in “The Book Thief” -
Stephanie Merry 4.15
Stephanie Merry’s “Book Thief” Keeps Things on an Even Keel -
Kirk Honeycutt 4.15
Kirk Honeycutt’s “The Book Thief” Is the Neverending Story -
Joshua Rothkopf 4.1
Joshua Rothkopf’s “The Book Thief” Burns Hot and Quick -
Michael Dequina 4.08
Michael Dequina Keeps Things Blessedly Succinct in “The Book Thief” -
John Hazelton 4.08
John Hazelton Shows a Steady Hand in “The Book Thief” -
Stephen Farber 4.08
Stephen Farber’s “The Book Thief” Moves at a Languid Pace -
Kevin Jagernauth 4.05
Kevin Jagernauth Shows Depth and Individuality in “‘The Book Thief’” -
Jordan Hoffman 4.05
Sarcasm Runs Deep in Jordan Hoffman’s Amusing “Treacly Look” -
Brian Orndorf 4.03
Brian Orndorf’s “The Book Thief” Is Mixed but Never Boring -
Margot Harrison 4.03
Margot Harrison’s “The Book Thief” Succeeds Despite Shaky Beginning -
Elizabeth Weitzman 4
Elizabeth Weitzman’s “‘The Book Thief’’” Is Balanced and Insightful -
Ben Kendrick 4
Your Head May Be Spinning by the End of Ben Kendrick’s “The Book Thief” -
Jordan Adler 4
Jordan Adler’s “The Book Thief” Would Rather You Read the Book -
Stephen Whitty 3.98
Stephen Whitty’s “‘The Book Thief’ Review” Is a Delight -
Sarah Bryan Miller 3.95
Sarah Bryan Miller’s “Story of Deep Humanity” Speaks in a Gentle Voice -
Anders Wright 3.95
Anders Wright’s “Muddled Story” Is a Jumble of Ideas -
Roger Moore 3.93
Roger Moore Brings Valid Perspectives to ““The Book Thief“” -
James Verniere 3.9
James Verniere’s “Page From Better Holocaust Tales” Is a Lightweight Read -
Matthew Razak 3.9
Matthew Razak Brings Cutting Wit to ““The Book Thief“” -
Kelly Vance 3.9
Kelly Vance’s “The Book Thief” Is Flawed but Persuasive -
Matt Prigge 3.9
Matt Prigge Brings a Sharp, Analytical Approach to “‘The Book Thief’” -
Dann Gire 3.88
Dann Gire’s “Disney-Esque Treatment” Loses Its Pacing Along the Way -
Barbara VanDenburgh 3.88
Barbara VanDenburgh Shows a Fresh Perspective in “‘The Book Thief,’” -
Louise Keller 3.85
Louise Keller’s “The Book Thief” Is Solidly Effective -
Jessica Herndon 3.83
Jessica Herndon’s “Heart-Stealing Triumph” Is Top-Heavy in Plot -
Justin Craig 3.83
Justin Craig Compares Film to Book Ad Nauseum in “A Beautiful Exploration” -
Godfrey Cheshire 3.8
Godfrey Cheshire’s Candor in “The Book Thief” Is Well Supported -
Mick LaSalle 3.75
Mick LaSalle’s “‘The Book Thief’ Review” Is Captivating -
Peter Rainer 3.75
Peter Rainer’s “Respectable but Dull Adaptation” Leaves the Reader Flat -
Leonard Maltin 3.75
Leonard Maltin’s “The Book Thief” Is Skillfully Composed -
Robert Levin 3.75
Robert Levin Offers New Perspective in “‘The Book Thief,’” -
Jason Gorber 3.73
Jason Gorber’s “More a Pamphlet Than a Novel” Struggles to Make Its Points -
Peter Canavese 3.73
Peter Canavese’s “The Book Thief” Is Harsh but Honest -
Jim Judy 3.73
Jim Judy Shows Mastery of His Craft in “‘The BOOK THIEF’” -
Kent Turner 3.7
Kent Turner Moves With Words In”’The Book Thief’” -
Marc Savlov 3.68
Marc Savlov’s “The Book Thief” Takes Too Long to Get to Its Point -
R. Kurt Osenlund 3.68
R. Kurt Osenlund’s “The Book Thief” Is as Engrossing as It Is Unique -
Wesley Morris 3.65
Wesley Morris’ “The Book Thief” Just Sort of Lies There -
James Berardinelli 3.63
James Berardinelli’s Cutting Wit Hits Home in “Book Thief, The” -
Peter Travers 3.63
Peter Travers’ “The Book Thief” Is Simple and Straightforward -
Mathew DeKinder 3.63
Mathew DeKinder Waffles in “Too Light a Tone” -
Frank Swietek 3.6
Frank Swietek’s “The Book Thief” Does a Satisfactory Job -
John Hanlon 3.58
John Hanlon’s Uneven “Fresh View of Holocaust” Is a Puzzler -
Nell Minow 3.5
Nell Minow Shows Wisdom in “The Book Thief” -
Sandie Angulo Chen 3.5
Sandie Angulo Chen’s “The Book Thief” Is Short but Sweet -
Diana Saenger 3.48
Diana Saenger Goes Against the Grain “The Book Thief” -
Jackie K. Cooper 3.48
Jackie K. Cooper’s “The Book Thief” Reads Like a Clone of Other Reviews -
David Kaplan 3.4
Too Much Plot and Confusing Analysis Mars David Kaplan’s “The Book Thief” -
Peter Howell 3.38
Peter Howell’s Skill Is Marginal in “The Book Thief” -
Mark Dujsik 3.38
Mark Dujsik’s Scalding Words in “THE BOOK THIEF” Have Merit -
Gary Wolcott 3.35
Gary Wolcott’s “Another of the Year’s Best” Needs Resuscitation -
Cynthia Fuchs 3.33
Cynthia Fuchs’ “Present That Promises No Future” Promises Murkiness -
Chris Bumbray 3.15
Chris Bumbray Is Compelling in “Review: The Book Thief” -
Ben Kenigsberg 3.13
Ben Kenigsberg’s “The Book Thief” Is Intriguing but Incomplete -
David Nusair 3.03
David Nusair’s “The Book Thief” Is Clumsy at Best -
Matt Pais 3
Matt Pais’s “‘The Book Thief’ Review” Is Cuttingly Honest -
Robert Abele 3
Robert Abele’s “Review: ‘The Book Thief’” Brings Nothing New to the Table -
Christopher Orr 3
Christopher Orr’s “The Book Thief” Shows Early Promise but Fizzles Out -
Stephanie Zacharek 2.88
Stephanie Zacharek’s “The Book Thief” Focuses Too Much on the Source -
Lou Lumenick 2.88
Lou Lumenick’s “‘Book Thief” Feels Incomplete -
Matt Shiverdecker 2.88
Matt Shiverdecker Gives a New Take in an Old Way in “The Book Thief” -
Travis Hopson 2.88
Travis Hopson’s “‘The Book Thief’” Is Flawed but Fair
