"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.
This is a book that was published a while back and I had no knowledge tell i found out a movie was being made of it. I love reading books that movies are based off of. So i purchased it and missed seeing the movie at the theater so i put off reading it and reviewing it. Now it coming to netflix soon and all my friends are wanting to see it to. So we all read it now we are waiting for the movie to arrive.
My thoughts on this book i loved it as much as i enjoy reading Diary of Anne Frank i love how both books give you a glimpse into this very interesting piece of our history. I was not alive back then but i am curious as to how things happen and what the Jews felt like having to hide and being persecuted as they were. It took me a while to read it but that mostly cause you absorbing a lot of great information and you get caught up in what is happening. It a very clever story and i thoroughly enjoy it and i hope i love the movie just as much.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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2 April, 2014:
Finished reading
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2 April, 2014:
Reviewed