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)

Incredible!

this is a beautifully written book and the narration is spectacular. this is one situation where I think listening to the book is actually better than reading it

One of my favorites!

This is such a great story, and the narration is superb. I am fascinated by the WWII era, so reading and listening to books about it are one of my priority selections. This offers a perspective from German citizens who did not receive the evil of Hitler, but rather chose to defy him. I love the characters and appreciate the unique character of the storyteller.

pain, loss, strength, survival

"Humans haunt me," the Grim Reaper says at the end. Pain, loss, strength, and survival write your story and be not afraid when it is time to go.

Fascinating and poignant

You know how sometimes you have a preconceived notion about a book? I had that with "the book thief" and my preconception was entirely wrong! Very interesting, although often difficult to listen to and negative in many ways - but you couldn't remove the aspects that disturbed me and still tell this story. I enjoyed it but don't know that I'll ever listen to it again.

The Greatest Book I have ever read

Please read this book. It is simply amazing and I cannot describe it here so just read it.

Fabulous!

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

Absolutely. I loved everything about the book. The author's style is so distinctive, the characters are beautifully drawn, and the narrator, death, is wonderfully droll. The story's reader, Alan Corduner, has a lovely accent and never gets in the way of the story.

There are hardly words!

There are hardly words to explain how much I loved this story and it's sound. I am not sure if I could have understood and appreciated the book if I hadn't listened to it. Reading words on paper leave out the gravel, the syrup and the anguish of the voice of the story.

Hearing the voices and the accents of the characters helped me to embrace them. I felt like I was watching their story in my mind while hearing their fears, joys and triumphs.

I do not often read books twice, and have never listened to a book a second time, but I may allow an exception for "The Book Thief."

Absolutely loved it.

Read this several years ago but wanted to try the audio...which I was just as pleased. with it.

Memorable characters

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

heartbreaking but hopeful

What did you like best about this story?

The trajectory of the story was not predictable

Any additional comments?

Could not stop listening. Highly recommend it.

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.