As an English major, I will find any excuse to curl up with a good book. I have my favorites: Animal Farm, the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and anything written by Kurt Vonnegut. The novel chosen for this year’s One Book, One Siouxland is definitely on my ever growing list of books to read. The Book Theif by Markus Zusak came in first at the Sioux City, South Sioux City, and North Sioux City Public libraries. The synopsis of the story is as follows:
Liesel Meminger is only 9 years old when she is taken to live with the Hubermanns, a foster family, in Molching, Germany, in the late 1930s. She arrives with few possessions, but among them is The Grave Digger’s Handbook, a book she stole from her brother’s burial place. During the years that Liesel lives with the Hubermanns, Hitler becomes more powerful, life on Himmel Street becomes more fearful, and Liesel becomes a full-fledged book thief. She rescues books from Nazi book-burnings and steals from the library of the mayor. Liesel is illiterate when she steals her first book, but Hans Hubermann uses her prized books to teach her to read. This is a story of courage, friendship, love, survival, death, and grief. This is Liesel’s life on Himmel (Heaven) Street, told from Death’s point of view.
If you have read the book or are interested in reading the book there are still One Book, One Siouxland events going on over the next few weeks. There is one more book discussion on Tuesday, February 16th at the North Sioux City Senior Center, and a lecture at the Sioux City public library on Saturday, February 27th. For more information visit the One Book, One Siouxland website. Happy Reading!
http://www.onebookonesiouxland.org/
-Lindsay Washburn, Social Media Intern
