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)

An Incredible Journey

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I loved this book. I loved the narrator. I listened to it after seeing the movie and I am so lad I listened to the book. The movie was great but the book is even better. The prose at times is like poetry. I really was moved by the experience of listening to this book and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

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

I can't think of a book to compare it with. I didn't want my experience with these characters to end. The last 20 minutes was so sad not only because of what happened but because I knew the book was coming to an end.

Which character – as performed by Allan Corduner – was your favorite?

I loved Rudy, Hans, Liesel, Max, even Rosa. It felt like this happened. These characters were so real to me.

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

I would love to take Rudy and Liesel out together one night and Hans, Max and Liesel another night.

OH MY

I could not stop listening! It was so beautifully written and the narrators voice was brilliant

LOVED!!

If you could sum up The Book Thief in three words, what would they be?

Compassion, beautiful, love

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

I loved his voice and accents, listening to him and how he read the story and German words and terms that are sprinkled throughout really made the story come alive much more than reading it on my own would have.

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

YES!!

A Beautiful Story

Written superbly and narrated with precision, this is a listen I won't soon forget. It is on the top 10 of books I have ever read.

Beautiful Story

I loved this story. Not sure why this is considered Young Adult, I wouldn't put it into that category.
Beautifully written and narrated It was refreshing to get the German view point of the war, as It seems I have been living in WWII England in my last few books and movies. I have been calling my cats all the German swear words for days now, they just roll off the tongue!
I highly recommend this book.

Interesting Book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It would depend on the friend! It was a good book, I listened to it for a book club and enjoyed it. I don't think I need to listen to it again. It was sort of long.

Moving and Powerful

5/5 stars for each rating! Once you read this book, you'll know why! The narrators voice really helps the story move along. He helps you understand German words (how to pronounce them), and he does an outstanding job with voice changing for different characters. Bravo to book thief!!!!

Amazing!

Such a fresh perspective on World War II and Nazi Germany. One of the best books I've ever read...or listened to.

Very well done oration

A moving story of life in a small town during the onset and times of WWII, as told through the words of the Grim Reaper and a young girl.

One of the Best Books I've Ever Read

This is one of those rare books that you wish would never end and want to start the second you finish it. It's really one of the best books I've ever read (heard). The story is fascinating and so unique. The perspective is totally out of the box. The narrator was perfect. Can't say enough good things about this book. I'm going to buy it in print just so I can savor it more, but the audio book is near perfect.