The Book Thief

By: Markus Zusak

Narrated by: Allan Corduner

Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Don’t miss Bridge of Clay, Markus Zusak’s first novel since The Book Thief.

The extraordinary number-one New York Times best seller 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)

©2006 Markus Zusak (P)2006 Random House Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic reviews

• Book Sense Book of the Year Award, Children's Literature, 2007

"The astonishing characters, drawn without sentimentality, will grab readers." (Booklist)
"Zusak has created a work that deserves the attention of sophisticated teen and adult readers....An extraordinary narrative." (School Library Journal)
"The Book Thief will appeal both to sophisticated teens and adults with its engaging characters and heartbreaking story." (Bookmarks Magazine)

It will PULL you into it!!!

The writing is incredible, written and narrated by "Death" . . . the journey of a young girl who has already lost her mother and brother comes to a small German town to foster parents during WWII. She doesn't know how to read and convinces her new "Papa" to teach her, beginning her love affair with books that changes her life . . . and the lives of many others.

not just for kids

well written and full of great quotes - "There's only one thing worse than a boy who hates a girl...A boy who loves a girl" Read by Allan Corduner in a most playful, dramatic, and entertaining tone the listener will not be disappointed. This Markus Zusak can write.... This reviewer only wishes for more.

An Excellent Book

I can't imagine why it is called a book for 'young adults'. They would never fully appreciate the book, which is very moving and tries to be fair as well as compassionate.

I laughed, I cried, I thought deeply.

This book is absolutely beautiful, dark, sad, and hilarious. The narrator was absolutely brilliant, and the author's habit of revealing events before they happened did not make them any less impactful.
Five out of five in all aspects.

A Perfect Book

This was hands down the best book I've experienced in a long time. The story was amazing and the narrator a perfect match. I highly recommend this.

Amazing, from start to finish.

Fantastic narration breathes life into the characters. What an amazing view point the narrator of the story has.

If You Can Just Hang in there ...

I nearly passed on this book because I did not want to experience any more nazi (yes, no caps) stories. They are so sad (as was this one at times) but I’m glad I didn’t.
First, the narrator could not have been better!
Second, the story turned out to be very good. I must admit, I nearly stopped more than a dozen times during the first 30 minutes, maybe even after that.
The writing is superb (after the first few chapters). The writer managed to capture the people, they’re experiences and feelings so vividly that I know I was THERE. I know I was. I call them people because they were never characters, not for a second. A- (minus for the slow start)

Don't shy away from this masterpiece!

I never truly understood the power of paradox in literature. And I never read a book quite like this one. This might be the most beautifully crafted story I have ever read. Here are some things that might be helpful, based on what I have heard people say about why they don't think they would like it and/or why they couldn't get into it.

1. The story, it's characters, and the narrator (not Allan Corduner, but the literary narrator) require some getting used to - it's awkward and confusing in the beginning. It merits your patience.
2. It is narrated by Death, it takes place in the early 1940's in Nazi Germany, and does not shy away from an aspect of what that implies. Read it anyway!
3. Young Adult Fiction - you're thinking, "Twilight" or "The Giver"........not even close! It could just as easily have been sold as adult fiction or historical fiction, and eventually it will be a "classic".

An insight into little miracles

What did you love best about The Book Thief?

I absolutely loved the writing, the descriptions, the details (like "he had a tall voice"), just such wonderful associations.
The book also showed everyday life in Germany during WW2 and how people had no choice but to carry on with the weekdays. The story showed the little miracles that made life in a war bearable, things that we take for granted in our world and our times. Makes you appreciate things more.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Book Thief?

When Liesel is waiting for Max to get better and Rosa goes to the school to let her know (in code) that he woke

What about Allan Corduner’s performance did you like?

It is without a doubt the best performance from an audio book I've ever heard. Loved his voice and the accents he did, slightly German for Papa was my favorite. Also his pronunciation of the German words was flawless and he switched back and forth between English and German seamlessly. An absolute joy listening to him. A true performance, not just a reading.

If you could take any character from The Book Thief out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I would take Rosa Hubermann. I'd like to find out more about her and why she showed a completely different personality and attitude to the outside world than what she was actually like

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend the book to anyone. Beautifully written and outstandingly performed, it shows the details of life in Germany during WW2 that few books do.

This was my first audio book and I LOVED it.

What did you love best about The Book Thief?

How is was "death" speaking.

What other book might you compare The Book Thief to and why?

none

Which scene was your favorite?

every

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"Here is a small fact, you are all going to die"

Any additional comments?

My vision is bad and I love audio books, even though I fall asleep often and have to rewind.