The Book Thief

566 pages

English language

Published Sept. 11, 2007

ISBN:
978-0-375-84220-7
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4 stars (4 reviews)

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

By her brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left behind there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordian-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found.

But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jew in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up, and closed down.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

READING …

16 editions

Wet cardboard

3 stars

It's historical misery porn, your Angela's Ashes or Kite Runner sort of deal. It's a bit smug & condescending which is a lot since it's pretty clear the author had no idea how to end it & panicked. The main character is devoid of personality & the cute trick of the narrator being the grim reaper gets old the second time it appears. I cried at the end but possibly because I was also ready for death to swing past one last time.

Will I ever learn to read a synopsis before starting a book? No. I blame the dice roll that chose this from my burgeoning 'to read' pile. Lousy roll