"It's just a small story, really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, a Jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery ..." Narrated in the all-knowing matter-of-fact voice of Death, witnessing the story of the citizens of Himmel Street: When nine-year-old Liesel arrives outside the boxlike house of her new foster parents, she refuses to get out of the car. Liesel has been separated from her parents - 'Kommunists' - for ever, and at the burial of her little brother, she steals a gravedigger's instruction manual which she can't read. It is the beginning of her illustrious career. In the care of the Hubermans, Liesel befriends blond-haired Rudy Steiner, her neighbour obsessed with Jesse Owens. She also befriends the mayor's wife, who hides from despair in her library. Together Liesel and Rudy steal books - from Nazi book burning piles, from the mayor's library, from the richer people of Molching. In time, the family hide a Jewish boxer, Max, who reads with Liesel in the basement. By 1943, the Allied bombs are falling, and the sirens begin to wail. Liesel shares out her books in the air-raid shelters.
But one day in the life of Himmel street, the wail of the sirens comes too late ...A life-changing tale of the cruel twists of fate and the coincidences on which all our lives hinge, this is also a joyous look at the power of book to nourish the soul. Its uplifting ending will make all readers weep.
Full Review on: my Blog ThePunkTheory
When I picked up this book , I had no idea what to expect. The first surprise was the unexpected narrator. The Book Thief is told from the perspective of death himself, who always keeps an eye on little Liesel. You can already tell, this is not an ordinary novel.
To be more precise, it's the kid of book that rips your heart out and then tears it to shreds. The story Markus Zusak crafted is insanely intense and touching. I hadn't expected this novel to hit me this heart, but I was moved to tears several times. Every little details comes together perfectly in this more than heartbreaking plot.
Despite all the tragic you will find, there are still moments that will bring a smile to your face, which makes the rest even sadder.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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18 June, 2017:
Finished reading
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18 June, 2017:
Reviewed