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)

Masterpiece

Where are those onion cutting ninjas?
I am not crying you are!
My life is complete

Heart Wrenching

What a fascinating and heart wrenching story. A haunting novel about a German girl and a Jewish man her foster family is hiding during WW2. This is a story you will never forget.

I enjoyed this very much

I enjoyed this book quite a bit and felt the narrator did an excellent job. I'd recommend this book to almost anyone, the writing was excellent.

This book!

I have to stop crying to write a quick review. Jesus, Mary and Joseph! This book is magical and lovely and utterly heartbreaking. I am wrecked....

Thought provoking, entertaining, enlightening read

I am always interested in different perspectives regarding WWII and its horrors. This book revealed yet another viewpoint. The narration was particularly masterful, and brought the complexity of the characters to life. I highly recommend this book.

Loved the narrator!

This book was phenomenal! I am drawn to World War Two books and this did not disappoint. The storytelling style was engaging and had me hooked. Great read

The Book Thief's Attachments

What made the experience of listening to The Book Thief the most enjoyable?

I think that listening to a book like this is a richer experience than reading it. I probably won't go to the movie. It is a book like "The Book Thief" that makes you long for radio instead of movies. The personalities of each of the characters, even the minor ones, give a sense of what it was like to live through the reign of the "Furor". The sacrifices of the normal people(in the Nazi party or not) was similar to those experienced by the whole world at the time except for the few of privileged. It was very realistic including the harboring of a Jewish
"boarder" who had been related to a Jew who saved Lisel's adopted "papa's" life.

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

Maybe a little Anne Frankish?

What does Allan Corduner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voices and even the enunciation of the German city names and the less than complimentary terms of endearment bandied about made the story real.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When a Jewish merchant's door was defaced, Hans Hubler was there to paint it the next morning.

Any additional comments?

I am not sure how this book was suggested, but it doesn't seem like something I normally would have picked I glad I listened. It gave me more perspective on the era.

The colors of the sky

Where does The Book Thief rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's one of my favorite books

What does Allan Corduner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A fantastic voice that both brings the characters to life and fits deaths personality.

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

Death, because I imagine he'd be an interesting conversationalist

Any additional comments?

I love this book, both in text and in audio form.

Great book!

This book is amazing and thw narrator is fabulous. Give it a listen if you haven't yet.

It Stole My Heart

What made the experience of listening to The Book Thief the most enjoyable?

Hearing the story unfold.

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

That Himmel means Heaven.

Have you listened to any of Allan Corduner’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was too intense for that.

Any additional comments?

Death tells a sweet story through the eyes of a child.