Sublimity in "The Book Thief" - Julia Allen

 One key aspect of the book "The Book Thief" is that the entire story is narrated by death. He follows the journey of a young girl during WWII who faces incredible joy and incredible sorrow. The concept that death himself is narrating the story I believe makes it a work of the sublime. To see through the eyes of death himself is a terrifying and awe inspiring thing, and the reader is glued to his narrative in a way that only sublimity can do. We watch him take away loved ones and also watch her find new ways to grow, but the whole story itself is heavy and melancholic and yet bittersweet. I think that bitter sweetness is also a feeling that is key to the sublime that this story exemplifies very well.

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