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)

The book thief

This was a very good book and I will reccomend it to my friends who also listen to audible

Great Book!

Great book! I loved the movie and the story line. This was a very good audio.

I can't.

I can't with this book. there are just so many things that are beautiful and amazing and it's my new favorite book.
also I cried a total of 11 times.

The astonishing ending

The line at the end of the book “I am haunted by humans” leaves you numb

Refreshing Read

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

Colorful, Beautiful and Love

Who was your favorite character and why?

Too many good ones to choose, Papa? Lisel? Rudy? Max?

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

No but I would love to hear more, his voice MADE this book. I know others have read the book themselves but have listened to this version for the performance

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

Spoilers

Keep going!

This book really sneaks up on you. After half listening to the first hour I gave up, then I found myself driving without an auto book. I started where I left off and found myself wanting to stay behind the wheel to finish the book. What a powerful story.

great listen!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this audio book. itvwas interesting to hear a story about a German living through the Nazi regime.

superbly written perfectly narrated

I highly recommend this audiobok. I would have given the writing five stars, only that for there being a little too little adult content --- no strained marriages, etc. That is the only thing that gave it away as technically a 'young adult' novel. Yet it is excellently written with crisp phrasing, convincing dialogue, and successful description of place. Plot is good, but it is character development which keeps you invested. Narrator is great, no one could have done better; but given that death is the narrator I occasionally wished I was reading rather than listening, so that my internal imagination of the grim reaper's voice was the storyteller. Similar to but not quite as good a story as "all the light we cannot see', but I think just as well written.

This Story has it all

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

This story is the perfect combination of humor, sadness and joy.
Even thought is a "war story" , this book tells the story from a different point of view, it recounts the tribulations of the German civilians and how they also suffered and lost their loved ones during war.
Overall , is a great story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Liese's papa (Hans Hubermann) changed the gir's life. He was caring, funny, supportive and taught her how to read.

What about Allan Corduner’s performance did you like?

excellent.

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

Even death respected the book thief.

Excellent book

Would you consider the audio edition of The Book Thief to be better than the print version?

I prefer audio. I walk for exercise a lot, and it is very nice to concentrate on a good story while walking.

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

Sarah's Key. Holocaust stories.

Which scene was your favorite?

When she broke into the mayor's house and took a book from his library.

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

Her adoptive father. He was a very compassionate man and led a very interesting life.

Any additional comments?

This book was well written and did not get too gruesome with the Holocaust happenings.