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)

Exquisite writing. Wonderful and real characters. Gently terrifying.

Expertly handled telling of multiple stories from one ubiquitous and necessary character. All the characters are fully drawn, easily visualized by the reader, and each is without contradiction or incongruity. The plot rolls out in the minutae of a daily life that marches on under annihilating clouds of ash. Each character grows more important as the machinations of death roll through Himmel Street in Munich, Germany. Those initially unlikable characters grow in the reader's mind into real people whose humanizing stories. I found myself looking for every character in every scene -- often wrongly predicting their next revelation. As the characters assembled, I needed to make sure they were surviving their cicumstances.

Stories that allow characters to slowly reveal their true souls yet whose stories grow with the plot are the most engaging. This is one of those instances.

To choose a favorite character is not possible for me. With each chapter, I was alternately surprised, horrified, and delighted by the actions or words each produced.

In the end, or at the end of the portion of history this book comprises, I felt changed. How? I'm not sure. The presentation refuted my preconceived notions, forcing me to "see" things differently. Being blessedly unfamiliar with living through war in my front yard, I was also unfamiliar with the miracle of survival. Even in such devastation, human beings find nooks and crannies of beauty, joy, compassion and hope.

The author's decision to NOT exploit this story beyond the physical ruination of the town speaks to the restraint necessary to limit the story to one or two important effects the reader can take away for further consideration. This is NOT an ensemble cast; instead these many characters, while linked to each other, survive iin their own unique manner according to the passions of their hearts.

If you read this book, take a while after it ends to ponder it's effect on you, then look around and make sure your own actions reflect your soul.

One's heart and soul cannot rely on external events or people, but you will be shaped by them. This book showed me many sides of many ideas, and because of the author's passion and care in presenting his material, I learned as much about myself as I learned about living with war -- as much about long periods of cold and hunger as about the means to find peace in the "things" that conjure our loved ones to soothe our fears.

About death, Mr. Zusak gives us an almost tangible being. In "The Book Thief," death is doing its work but not without reflection and regret. Death has opinions and preferences, but death has no free will--only we humans do.

And then there are the books. There was a point in the story where I felt (physically) the connection between the books, the girl, and all the resulting connected tentacles of this microcosmic community. Books are the foundation upon which Leisel is drawn. Even before Liesel could read, she was attracted to the physicality of books, addicted we'd say today. She stole and hid them not knowing what they held, just feeling what could be. Her father, Max and the mayor's eccentric wife cemented the allure.

A stranger appears and unexpectedly alters many events and characters. Max may challenge your thoughts about the will to survive, He is a beacon, a saint, if you will.

I must stop writing or I'll reveal too much.

Can you tell, I loved it?

This is required reading in some Jr. Highs and high schools. I just read it for the first time (in my 70s). Just goes to show: We never stop learning.

Endearing and haunting

Exceptional story of a girl, her books and war. The narration was very good too.

Beautifully Tragic

Wonderful characters caught in a sad time in the world’s history. Great writing got me through the horrifying sadness in parts. I will read this one again.

Powerful

Simply amazing to listen to and read. My family and I enjoyed the story together.

Story felt authentic

Narrator was outstanding. He spoke clearly and at the correct pace. The voices brought the characters in focus.

Stunningly Original and Thouhtful

The Book Thief is one of the most interesting and touching books I’ve ever read. Tenderly weaving life of regular people in wartime Nazi Germany with hard and harsh realities of suffering and death, its tale is exquisitely narrated by Death.

SO GOOD!

Intelligent and realistic with touches of humor. The narrator is great and the writer develops a characters beautifully. highly recommend!

Waves of Emotions

This book takes us through every emotion imaginable and is told from such a fresh and interesting perspective. I am haunted by humans…

Left me in tears

This story will touch you to the bone, it’s so true and so vivid. It paints a different picture of war-torn Europe, that of German civilians, who also died and suffered, which is often overlooked in history books and literature. But above all, it tells a compelling story of talent, tragedy, loss and perseverance, all in the young life of Liesel.

Enthralled from beginning to end

Now I know why it is suggested that this book be included in the high school English curriculum-!a gripping story of a girl in war torn Germany whose life was torn apart, put back together and broken again by the tragedy. Loved every minute of the book.