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)

There were wooden teardrops and an oaky smile

Without an exageration I can say that it was one of the best books I ever read...

I finished the reading (i.e. listening) in cold Paris, March 2009 walking on the dark streets of this city. And the first thing I did after I finished was to go back to the beginning and to start it again....

"First the colors. Then the humans" - this is how it starts, the story told from the perspective of ... death personified. The narration brings some far but strong recollections of that used by Norman Mailer in his "The Castle in the Forest", but don't take it as criticism - in fact it is a praise....

What makes Zusak's book such increadible experience? First and foremost - his vacabulary, his parlance, his prose poetry. Bacause of these, you loose the sense of reading the novel, and you feel like you are reading the poetry...

"I can promise you that the world is a factory. The sun stirs it, the humans rule it. And I remain. I carry them away. "

"The girl loved that-- the shivering snow"

One of my friends told me, when recommended the book couple of weeks ago: "I did not know how one could live through the words as it is in the book" ...

But there is also something else. The book has deep meaning and strong message. It is about the most dark period of human history - Nazi Germany. It's about Jewish persecution and Holocaust. But it is also about forgivness, about love, about the simple fact that not all Germans were Nazi and not all Nazis were killers. It's about life in hard times, and about difficult greatness.

And - last but not least - Allan Corduner's narration is one of the best on Audible !!!

Mirek Sopek

Beautifully Tragic

Wow. Worth the listen and investment of your time. I felt like part of the story. Emotionally gripping narration.

One of the best

The Book Thief is one of the finest novels I've ever listened to(or read ). Zusac's prose is brilliant, elegant, at turns breath-taking or hilarious; there were times when I wanted to rewind the book just to hear a phrase again. If I'd been reading rather than listening, I'd have read with a highlighter in hand! The story line is simple but pure and haunting; the characters are multi-dimensional, endearing and unforgettable. I sobbed near the end (not something I often do when reading/listening). Having Death be the narrator was literary genius. Zusac makes us think about the guilt and innocence of war, the nature of love, and reminds us that the smallest things can make the biggest difference. You'll want to listen to this book more than once. I'm looking forward to listening to it with my family.

breathtaking

even though I had already read the book and seen the movie, I am so grateful that I had the audible experience as well. The rperformance s perfect, it did justice to the beautiful metaphors in this story. Hard to believe that a holocaust story could be uplifting.

Like listening to a play.

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

I would definitely recommend this book! Story is interesting and heart wrenching. Narrator was superb.

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

This is a book I would tell others to listen to instead of reading it. The narrator brings the characters to life.

One of the best books I ever read/listened to!

What did you love best about The Book Thief?

The author writes so beautifully, I found myself rewinding just to hear the words again. The way he describes things in such detail is like reading poetry. The relationships that develop are wonderfully told.

What about Allan Corduner’s performance did you like?

His German phrases were spot on! A great performance.

Truly Excellent

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

Yes, I would recommend this book without reservation.

What did you like best about this story?

Death as the narrator.

What about Allan Corduner’s performance did you like?

Phrasing and German pronunciation.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed and cried. Even when Death tells you chapters ahead that tragedy will strike, Zusak's prose brings you to tears anyway.

Any additional comments?

Absolutely lovely.

Fantastic

The book itself is fantastic. A very different perspective from other books I've read on the same topic. Even though the narrator (the actual story teller written into the book, not the audio book narrator) tells you how the book is going to end, multiple times, you're never prepared for it. The narration is excellent -- voices and accents are perfect.

Wonderful!

Wonderful story. I love the unique perspective that the author chose. The audible book was very well read. Thank you.

It made me cry real tears

I was crying while walking the dog; hope the neighbors didn't misinterpret (LOL).
It's a touching novel that evokes overwhelming emotion.
If I had to compare it to another novel; I'd say 'City of Thieves' - which is also a wonderful (yet sad) audio book. The narration is also a fantastic performance.