The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak

Allan Corduner (Narrator)

DON’T MISS BRIDGE OF CLAY, MARKUS ZUSAK’S FIRST NOVEL SINCE THE BOOK THIEF.
 
The extraordinary #1 New York Times bestseller that is now a major motion picture, Markus Zusak's unforgettable story is about the ability of books to feed the soul.
 
Nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read.

When Death has a story to tell, you listen.

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. 

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.
 
“The kind of book that can be life-changing.” —The New York Times
 
“Deserves a place on the same shelf with The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.” —USA Today

• ISBN10: 0739337270
• ISBN13: 9780739337271
• Publish Date: 26 September 2006 (first published 14 March 2006)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Out of Print: 5 October 2020
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Listening Library
• Edition: Unabridged edition
• Format: Audiobook (CD)
• Pages: 11
• Language: English

Reviews

[lizarodz]

To start with a quote, this book is:

“It’s a small story really, about, among other things:

* A girl
* Some words
* An accordionist
* Some fanatical Germans
* A Jewish fist fighter
* And quite a lot of thievery”

I typically avoid historical fiction when it’s based on real wars. Why? I’m not sure myself, but it’s probably because of the toll of death and suffering that I’m sure to find. I finally picked up The Book Thief, after seeing both the previous for the movie and also after seeing so many recommendations around the book blogs and Goodreads.

I wish, not for the first time, and I’m sure it will not be the last, that I was a gifted writer. I wish that I was someone that could put into words the magic that sits between the pages of The Book Thief. Alas, since I cannot, you are stuck with this review instead. The Book Thief is, without any doubt, one of the best books I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

What made this book perfection for me is Zusak’s unusual writing. Words have a meaning beyond words and feelings, they convey colors, visions, smells, pain, touch; words become concrete, tangible and above all, powerful. The narrator of Liesel’s story is Death itself. It’s not a scary book at all, it is filled with many emotions, but horror is not one of them.

Liesel has seen a lot of heartache in her short life. She is taken to a small town near Munich to foster parents just before WWII starts. Here Liesel finds a family, a best friend and words. I think words, and therefore, books, have such a big meaning for Liesel because she was deprived of both in her earlier years. She forms bonds forged in fear, love, hate,

The characterization is incredibly amazing. Rudy, Papa, Mama, Max, friends and enemies alike become alive. They are all distinct individuals with their own lives, fears and stories. I wish I could tell you more about these characters, but I don’t want to ruin the story for you. Just know that regardless of what happened, I was glad I got to meet all of you.

The Book Thief is not about the allies or the Germans or about right and wrong; it’s about how the decisions of others changed the life of many in an irreversible way. It’s about feeling and showing hate because it’s safer to do so, and the courage to do otherwise. It’s about doing the right thing when the right thing is viewed as betrayal. It’s about the power of words to change the life one girl, her adopted parents, her friends, and one Jew.

I cannot find fault with this book and I will not try to find any. As I mentioned above, the writing is sublime. The format of the book is different, as it’s divided in parts, each with a set of subtitles that might constitute chapters. Death, our narrator gives us advanced glimpses as what is to come, but I still felt the ending hit me like a punch on the face. As I listen to the final chapters of the book (and I was driving, mind you!), I cried like a baby.

I consider it my duty to tell you that if you decide to read The Book Thief, and I hope you do, please have tissues handy because there’s not getting away from crying. Even now as I think back to the story or as I selected a few quotes to include in this review, my eyes water and I have to hold back tears. That, my dear readers, is powerful. Perfection.

Some quotes for you:

“People observe the colors of a day only at its beginnings and ends, but to me it's quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations with each passing moment. A single hour can consist of thousands of different colors. Waxy yellows, cloud-spot blues. Murky darkness. In my line of work, I make it a point to notice them."

“A small but noteworthy note. I've seen so many young men over the years who think they're running at other young men. They are not. They are running at me.”

“She said it out loud, the words distributed into a room that was full of cold air and books. Books everywhere! Each wall was armed with overcrowded yet immaculate shelving. It was barely possible to see paintwork. There were all different styles and sizes of lettering on the spines of the black, the red, the gray, the every-colored books. It was one of the most beautiful things Liesel Meminger had ever seen.
With wonder, she smiled.
That such a room existed!”

“I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race - that rarely do I even simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant...I AM HAUNTED BY HUMANS.”


About the Cover: This is probably the only bad thing about the book. It’s uninspiring and not relevant.

[Nessa Luna]

Read this review, and many more on my blog October Tune!

I saw this book on Tumblr and Goodreads a lot of times, being recommended by a lot of people, so I decided to buy it a couple of weeks ago. And I was blown away by how amazing this book is. I have always been interested in books about the second world war, both fiction and non-fiction (though I am so not a fan of non-fiction books), and I have read a lot of books about it. But this book has got to be my favourite until now. Basically, this book is about Liesel Meminger, but she is not the narrator. No, the narrator of this story is Death. And that is one of the things that makes this book so good.

I liked the way it was written, I liked the story, because this is actually the first World War II story that I’ve read that happens in Germany. Most of the books I’ve read happened in the Netherlands. I also liked the fact that the writer used some German words in his sentences (and he always put the translation of those words in the same sentence, which is handy for people who can’t speak German).

There was one thing about this book that I did not like, and that was that somewhere near the end of the book. At that point, the ending of the book is already being told. Death tells it’s so it might ‘soften the blow’ for later, but it actually made me feel a bit.. irritated, because I really do not like spoilers, though it is in the book itself so it’s not really a spoiler. But I still didn’t like it. When I read the actual thing, of how it actually happened, I did sob. A lot. So no, Death, it did most definitely NOT soften the blow.

Other than that, this book is perfect. I heard it was going to be made into a movie, so I am really looking forward to that!

[Joséphine]

June 24, 2013

Book review is up on Word Revel.

____________

June 22, 2013

Initial thoughts: Instead of sticking to one format for this book, I alternated between the audiobook and the ebook. For the audiobook, I enjoyed listening to Allen Corduner. It somehow made the narrative form of “The Book Thief” more real for me. Though it is a good thing I read parts myself too because of the various illustrations.

The writing style is simple and clear. Still, even though this book has been targeted at older juvenile and young adult readers, it is so multi-faceted, it should appeal to the adult reader as well. I wouldn’t recommend it to those who are looking for a quick read but for those looking to be challenged, this is a great book.

[nannah]

Oh, did I cry at the end of this one. I might not be able to write a coherent review at the moment; that ending just reduced me to a pile of snotty tissues. Let's be honest. Zusak's writing and style really swelled to something gorgeous then. He really took time to make it pretty dang perfect.

The last half really kept me glued to the pages, but I wish the first had the same immediacy. I found the book a little hard to get into--I think, maybe, until Max made his entrance. It almost seems to me that everything that came before him was backstory that I wish had been abbreviated somewhat.

I did really enjoy Death the Narrator and his little inputs, surprisingly. It's not something I'd usually fall for, but I think, especially towards the end, the narrator really made sense to me. It made such an impact that would've been lost without it.

I also have to mention that I absolutely adored Rudy Steiner (though not the bit with the blackface; I think the book could've done without that, to be quite honest . . . ). The way Zusak connected his every action to something that happened later in the book was brilliant, albeit heartbreaking. Even mentioning what happens to him early on didn't lessen the pain when his scenes finally occurred in the end.

Anyway, I can't really write more than that at the moment. I'm still frustrated and blubbering.

[mary]

I truly enjoyed the book thief. It is not your typical YA novel and for that I believe it stands out. As someone who enjoys writing I find inspiration in author's words. Zusak has inspired me far more than most. His words feel like stars on my tongue, a burst of inspiration. He actually makes me feel which is what separates out good writers. They have the ability to make the readers feel long after having read their novel. There is something beautiful about this book. It's like a work of art. It's like the language is actually breathing. He makes you with in love with Death, doesn't that say it all?

[neddieb]

What can I say. I have never been so touched by a book and its story until I read "The Book Thief"

[Michael @ Knowledge Lost]

While I enjoyed the narrative and the writing style of this book. I had too many issues with this book to really like it, I would usually write a review but that turned into a blog entry which you can read here

[Terri M. LeBlanc]

This is one of the best WWII novels that I have read in a long time. A moving and touching story told from an usual point of view. I highly recommend this novel.

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

Featuring:
Death, A Young Girl,
Hiding, A Love Of Books

Death serves as our narrator in this chilling novel. He quickly explains that he does not in anyway look like the grim ripper that pop culture has perceived him to be, such as wearing a black cloak and carrying a scythe, but instead is just like you and me... well sort of. Like a teacher who remembers a favorite student Death tells the tale of Liesel Meminger, a girl who he brushed past while doing his job.

We first meet Liesel Meminger by her brother's grave site during Nazi Germany. While mourning her brother she picks up The Gravediggers Handbook. I guess you could call it a memento. This memento begins the art of thievery and the need to learn how to read.

Soon after this event she is shipped off to a foster family, Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Hans and Rosa contrast each other nicely, like the "Jack Sprat" nursery rhyme. Rosa is short and never walks but waddles, while she appears to be a strict disciplinarian her seemingly ice cold heart is really made of gold. Hans is tall and lean with a very outgoing personality with a love for playing the accordion. It is also through him that Liesel learns to read The Gravediggers Handbook.

Just when things are getting settled on Himmel Street Hans fulfills a promise to Erick Vandenburg, who saved his life during the first Wold War. This promise was to do anything for his family as payment, that payment is hiding Erick's son Max, a Jew in his basement. Even though there is a constant fear that they may be found out life continues on as normally as possible. Not only are the Hubermanns closeting a Jew but they are also in close proximity to Dachau making Jews walking through their town a regular occurrence.

Throughout all this turmoil, Liesel Meminger continues to steal books from book burnings and the personal library of the mayor. Although, this ability turns out to be a blessing in diguise while in the neighborhood bomb shelter. Unfortunately, this also turns into a curse and her savior by the end of book.

What didn't I like about The Book Thief? It was extremely well written, and was an excellent young adult crossover with the subject matter being the Holocaust. I think because it described events in a way that didn't dumbed it down too much for adult readers, making them feel like they were reading a first or second grade level book, but was explanatory enough that a teen could understand it. I also really enjoyed that it was told from Death's perspective, this was so unique and original and actually made the reader feel empathy for him, maybe because of the sadness that comes with the job.

Liesel, her foster family and the residence of Himmel Street stay with you long after closing the book as they all seem so real leaving a huge impact on the reader. This is my second time reading The Book Thief and cried after completing it, I had a repeat preforming last week as well, which is hard to do as I've been stamped as an ice princess. Not to sound like a back cover, but this book is destined to become a classic.

[ibeforem]

This book is many things. 'Haunting' may be an egregiously overused cliché, but it's difficult to find a better word to describe a book set in Germany during World War II that is narrated by none other than Death himself. People seem to either love or hate this book, and I think most of that has to do with the writing style. Zusak does things that are generally not done. Words are spoken about as objects that can slap you in the face or roll to a stop at your feet. Colors come to you through Death's eyes, so the skies may be blue or yellow or brown or white. And beneath it all is a rhythm that grabbed me and pulled me through Liesel's world.

'Summer came.
For the book thief, everything was going nicely.
For me, the sky was the color of Jews.'

For me, an interesting aspect of this book is the view of the life of a young German living in poverty in Hitler's Germany. I have read a lot of Holocaust literature, but very little from the German point of view. And there is a good mixture of points of view here. You have Germans from both sides of the line -- those who would help the Jews, and those who would throw things at the helpers and scream 'Jew-lover'. Yet even the screamers have their softer sides.

Though the book is about Liesel, the book thief, one of the more interesting characters is Hans, her foster father. He is the one who makes it possible for Liesel to develop the love of books and words that eventually saves her life. He makes it possible for Liesel to love anyone at all, with his patience and compassion. And he's the subject of one of my favorite descriptions in the entire book:

'Papa sat with me tonight. He brought the accordion down and sat close to where Max used to sit. I often look at his fingers and face when he plays. The accordion breathes. There are lines on his cheeks. They look drawn on, and for some reason, when I see them, I want to cry. It is not for any sadness or pride. I just like the way they move and change. Sometimes I think my papa is an accordion. When he looks at me and smiles and breathes, I hear the notes.'

One of the things that really made this book come alive for me is something that you won't get if you're listening to it on audio, or perhaps even reading the ebook (depending on the format). At one point, Max, the Jewish man living in Liesel's basement, paints over the pages of his copy of Mein Kampf and writes and illustrates a story for Liesel. In the book you are treated to this story, complete with the faded words of Mein Kampf in the background. It was something so minor, but so powerful for me.

There *are* aspects to the book that are weak. The whole plot line with the mayor's wife comes off as a little undeveloped, and when Liesel decides to write her own life story, it's rushed through and then forgotten in the rubble. There are a few unanswered questions that I really wish had been answered, but I guess it's those unanswered questions that keep us thinking about a book long after we've closed it. Overall, I loved it.