Name: The Book Thief
Rating: 4.481232259206799 (2824 reviews)
ISBN: 9781784162122

Markus Zusak

The 10th-anniversary edition of the No. 1 international bestseller and modern classic beloved by millions of readers HERE IS A SMALL FACT - YOU ARE GOING TO DIE 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier. Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall. SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION - THIS NOVEL IS NARRATED BY DEATH The 10th-anniversary edition features pages of bonus content, including marked-up manuscript pages, original sketches, and pages from the author's writing notebook.

The Book Thief

Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel--a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbors.

romanzo

Storia di una ladra di libri

Antonio Marini

Il potere delle parole sembra essere il tema centrale del romanzo di Zusak. Nella sua narrazione, però, le parole non hanno nessuna capacità di influenzare gli eventi che appaiono invece assolutamente imprevedibili e accidentali. Le parole qui assumono invece un ruolo contraddittorio, nel loro apparire come agente di divisione o di unione tra gli esseri umani. Così il peggior libro del mondo diventa anche il miglior libro del mondo. Così l'amore familiare, i rapporti col vicinato, i drammi della guerra e dell'olocausto, e infine il legame con la morte sono sempre nel bene o nel male originati, stimolati se non determinati dalle parole.

ikkychan

The subject of war has never been my favorite thing to read, especially those involving 1940’s Germany. There’s this inescapable sense of bleakness and doom all over, with pages and pages dripping with gruesome deaths and sadness. Not only that, the complexities of conditions resulting from war are not easy to depict in writing, as the direction could prove either to be too unbearable for me to read, or worse, the impact of the war is entirely overlooked. To my delight, ‘The Book Thief’ by Markus Zusak has not only balanced the two perspectives, but also offered something new to the table. Liesel Meminger was only 9 when she had to face the loss of father, death of a brother and an unforeseen parental rights relinquishment where her mother, Paula Meminger gave her away to her foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Everything happened so fast for little Liesel that she had no time to adjust and resorted to one way to express her repressed emotion: waking up screaming every night, haunted by abandonment and loss. Hans, her papa, patiently rousing her from her nightmare and sitting next to her bed, making sure she knows he’s here to stay. As Liesel started to open her heart to her Papa and the stern, big-hearted Mama, she came to know the ensemble of Himmel Street’s ecosystem: her best friend Rudy Steiner, Mama’s archnemesis Frau Holtzapfel, spiteful candy-seller Frau Diller, little Tommy Müller, the whistler Pffifikus, the mayor’s wife Ilsa Hermann, and the Hubermann’s secret lodger, Max Vandenburg. Each of them shares their lives with Liesel, young and innocent as she is, as she began to learn and understand the impact of the Second World War on the town and its people as it came into full swing. What sets this book apart from other historical war novels is having Death as the narrator. For a book with such a genre, I couldn’t see any other point of view more befitting than the Grim Reaper’s. True, it’s an overstatement to be declared revolutionary as there are other books predating ‘The Book Thief’ that offered the idea (e.g. "Reaper Man" by Terry Pratchett or “On a Pale Horse" by Piers Anthony), but to have him narrate the events surrounding 1940’s Nazi Germany is truly a match made in heaven (or in the underworld?). In this tale, we are introduced to a kinder, more compassionate Death who imparts insights about humanity with a curious blend of either rambling out of boredom or conveying touching tenderness and warmth. Although, it could be argued that he simply talks too much at times. The unconventional narrative perspectives and structures where Death has random blips describing things, people or terminology from time to time do make the book stand out, but what really touches my soft spot is how Zusak portrays the duality of the citizens of Nazi Germany. Outwardly, Hans and Rosa are just your regular German neighbors; they heiled ‘Hitler’ when asked, they keep their windows open to show that they have nothing to hide, and the whole town is aware of the fact that Hans is awaiting his party membership’s approval. Little do they know that they actively hide a Jew in their basement and harbor defiant thoughts about the current government. Liesel, who begins to understand how she feels toward the regime when she figures out what happened to her real mother and father and what eventually killed her brother, is taught by Hans how to conduct in public space and be vigilant of her decorum as to not let anyone know and put herself in danger. Sometimes, a way to survive in a tyrannical, totalitarian regime is to be two-faced and lie through your teeth. The two contrasting values are also shown in the way Zusak writes about the condition of the town and the characters of the people living in it. The world may be cruel and cold, filled with these invisible shackles of rigid protocols and a suffocating sense of living next door to danger; but the characters are brimming with life, compassion and determination. Rosa may complain and berate her husband that they have no money everyday, but she quiets down at Max’s arrival and shows her resourcefulness to feed an extra mouth out of their already dwindling rations without as much as a sigh. Rudy may embody the Aryan ideal with his blond hair, fair complexion, and blue eyes, but he never lets these attributes define him and even goes so far as to defy his superiors to help the meek Tommy. Hans Hubermann (or should we say Überman instead?) offers to paint the door of Kleinmanns Clothing for free to erase the anti-semitic profanities written there after the people destroy the shop. Liesel herself has to learn the concept of loss from such a young age but instead of becoming emotionally distant or cold-hearted (which is understandable, like Frau Holtzapfel), she tries to treat everyone with kindness and empathy, especially Max, whom she creates a strong bond with. The most painful recognition lies in the bitter truth of the burden of outliving the dead, which is shared by the majority of characters in the book. Max Vandenburg has to grapple with long-time emotional conflict where he felt both relieved and undeserving when his family forced him to escape alone while they were seized by the Gestapo. Alex Steiner comes back from the war only to find his entire family has died during the air raid. Michael Holtzapfel is destroyed by the guilt of wanting to continue living when his own brother did not survive the battle and his mother refused to seek shelter from bombs. Liesel herself is still haunted by the memory of his brother coughing his last breath on the train and realizes that he will always be 6 while she will still grow taller and older. Each of the figures in the story experience such great loss and heart-wrenching death but we can also see how a few of them gradually come to terms with the harsh reality and realize that the only course of action left for them is to cope and continue living their own lives. Throughout the story, we can see how books and literature hold a vital role in Liesel’s life. The first book that fell into her hand was stolen from a gravedigger as a desperate act to remember her brother by. Though she couldn’t read a word, she felt a dire need to absorb the book to make sense of what happened to her brother. To quench her thirst for literature, Hans taught her how to read and write every night and this marked how her love for books enriches her relationship with others and allows her to form powerful bonds with other people. During their secret escapades in Ilsa Hermann’s library, Liesel unknowingly gives Ilsa a chance to cope with her only son’s demise. Max draws comfort and consolation using the stories that he writes for her. Rudy touches Liesel’s heart for the first time by rescuing ‘The Whistler’ from the river and in the same manner, she touches people's hearts when, while the rest of Himmel Street is huddled together in the Fielder's basement during an air raid and filled with fear, Liesel instinctively reads the first chapter of the book to calm the frightened children and, without realizing it, the adults too. The power of the book which can soothe and give solace to the people around her has the same capacity to harm and hurt, as illustrated by Max’s story ‘The Word Shaker’ which depicts how Hitler’s weaponized words to instill fear and anger in the German’s heart, hence controlling them. While it is certainly clear as day that I was crying when finishing the book, I would be lying if I say I don’t like it. The way Zusak painted the scenes with the color of the sky and the shape of the clouds, they evoke such a vivid and lively narrative that is both contrasting and enhancing the dark and tormenting story underneath it, giving this coming-of-age novel a strong and lasting impression in my mind.

Midnight Ink Drinker

This book is a masterpiece. It didn’t just tell a story it sat with me. It pulled me into places I didn’t even realize were still tender. What struck me most was how layered the characters felt. Mama isn’t cruel; she’s armored by responsibility and fear, doing the best she can in a world that demands too much of her. The mayor’s wife, surrounded by wealth, carries a quiet, aching loneliness that feels just as heavy. And Papa was one of the sweetest, most grounding presences in the story. He is the kind of person who makes you feel safe just by being there. Liesel’s hunger for reading is one of the most beautiful parts of the book. No one assigns it to her. No one rewards her for it. She steals books because she needs them. Reading becomes survival, comfort, control, and connection all the things children are often denied when life is unstable. That longing felt painfully real. This book doesn’t rush past pain or try to soften it. It treats grief, love, fear, and resilience with such care that you can’t help but carry it with you after the last page. This book reminded me why stories matter and why words can save us, even when everything else is being taken away.

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.
 

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.

source: http://www.booksontape.com/book/196153/the-book-thief/

"I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right." 

I really want to compliment the author's choice to make Death the narrator, and to not make it someone cruel and vile, who is enjoying these wars, but someone honest and TIRED of wars. The quote "Even death has a heart" really changes your perspective. All throughout the book I couldn't form a solid opinion on Death, and after I finished it, I still couldn't. I neither like nor hate that character. But I... at least in some parts, I could say I understood it. This is another thing. The author made Death seem almost like a human. 

 Even though Death "spoils" Rudy's death scene, it still hits us hard, because of Liesel's reaction, because of that kiss 😭 as someone who has never cried because of a book, I teared up for a couple of seconds...you decide whether that counts or not. 

clementine ⤜♡→

"I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right." 

I really want to compliment the author's choice to make Death the narrator, and to not make it someone cruel and vile, who is enjoying these wars, but someone honest and TIRED of wars. The quote "Even death has a heart" really changes your perspective. All throughout the book I couldn't form a solid opinion on Death, and after I finished it, I still couldn't. I neither like nor hate that character. But I... at least in some parts, I could say I understood it. This is another thing. The author made Death seem almost like a human. 

 Even though Death "spoils" Rudy's death scene, it still hits us hard, because of Liesel's reaction, because of that kiss 😭 as someone who has never cried because of a book, I teared up for a couple of seconds...you decide whether that counts or not. 

Milan Joseph

Joana Mae

At first, this book was incredibly challenging for me to read. I'll be honest—it tested the limits of my reading comprehension. It definitely felt like climbing a mountain to read. When I reached the part in the book that shattered my heart. 😭💔 Even with the narrator's casual spoiler, I never imagined they would all die simultaneously, leaving Liesel as the sole survivor in Himmel St. The way her survival was written left me in awe—what a devastating plot twist indeed. Liesel finally gave Rudy the kiss he had always asked for, but only after he was gone. She finally spoke the words to her foster parents now that they were gone. The pain was unimaginable. The book's concept is remarkable, particularly its unique choice of narrator - Death itself. This unconventional perspective offers a haunting and omniscient view of the story, bringing both distance and intimacy to the narrative. Death's observations about humanity during wartime are both poetic and profound, adding layers of meaning to the story that wouldn't be possible with a conventional narrator. This is my first time reading historical fiction. Though it's fiction, the experiences of people affected by the Nazi war were real. I cannot imagine how difficult it was for both the Jews and the Germans. 4.5 ⭐️ and a 1 💧

coco nini

this is the second book that gave me such a vivid picture of its setting— the first being The Memory Police. it was such an easy read, yet it never shied away from details. LOVE LOVE LAAAAUVVV

Nadine MacDonald

my all time favourite book. I would read this a million times over, great desert island book

La ladrona de libros

Marco yauri 

4.5.  Esta relectura ha sido espectacular, sentí todas las partes del libro, conocí a Liesel aún más, a su familia y a su vida en general, esta niña me conmovió con cada acción que realizaba, con cada libro que robaba...
Es una historia maravillosa, una novela histórica que todos deberían de leer, una novela para tener en cuenta, una novela que enseña a tenerle respeto a la muerte y a los sentimientos de la vida.

Beautifully written from an interesting perspective.

Cassandra Tang

the book swallowed my entire being and captivated me with its lovely and inevitably pessimistic use of literary devices. It warned me of everything that would happen, yet still amazed me anyways. This book allowed me to ready my teardrops and wipe them away. Rudy's innocence was my favorite. <3

Beautiful, thought provoking, sensational 

Hayley Allen

A beautiful reminder that even the most destructive of fires gives off warmth. 

Frederik De Bosschere

Get ready to be destroyed. Such a good book but truly heart wrenching. The audiobook done by Allan Corduner was perfection. There were certain things in the beginning that I didn’t love about the author’s style, but he more than makes up for those things with his imagery and detail. He pulls you in and you can just see everything unfolding in your mind. I laughed, I cried… such a moving story. 

The Book Thief

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