The Horrors of War and Division: A Comparative Study on The Book Thief and Ice-Candy Man

This study aims to analyse the background and history of novels set during the traumatic years of the World War II. The comparative analysis studies two selected novels, The Book Thief and Ice-Candy Man, which portray the happenings that shook the whole world. The horrors faced by the young girl protagonists Liesel and Lenny during the war, the types of environment that moulded them to grow a fondness towards reading, and the psychological connection to their closer affinity are discussed. For them, books seemed to be a sort of distraction and relief from the harsh external world. As the world of young children depicted a dreamy world, the books they took over matched the sweetness of ruminative thoughts and guided them along ruthless paths. This study aims to explore how the world that insisted on a playful and happy note for them turned otherwise because of the political turmoil and unfortunate turns in their lives. By analysing their relationships with the characters, the literature on resilience from trauma has been highlighted. This research serves as a mediator in connecting a person with the surroundings with a ray of positivity to overcome problems.