The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (9780552773898)

HERE IS A SMALL FACT - YOU ARE GOING TO DIE. 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier. Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall. SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION - THIS NOVEL IS NARRATED BY DEATH. It's a small story, about: a girl, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. ANOTHER THING YOU SHOULD KNOW - DEATH WILL VISIT THE BOOK THIEF THREE TIMES

Top reviews

Bookseller review

The Book Thief

Beautifully written, to make all your views of World War Two change to an emotional display of colours.

Review by Peter of the Cambridge Borders on 2009-01-23 20:28:08
Bookseller review

A stunning and original story.

Death tells the story of Liesel Meminger, a young orphan girl living in Nazi Germany. Markus Zuzak's novel brilliantly portrays the contrast between an innocent, untainted German family with the anything but innocent German rule. Liesel, the daughter of a communist, experiences the cold oppression of Hitler's tenure. 9/10.

Review by Mo of the Birmingham Borders on 2009-01-25 13:56:07
Bookseller review

One of 2008's Top Reads

A superb book about the events on one particular street, surrounding one particular girl during WWII. The Book Thief attracted considerable praise from critics and readers during 2008 and is one of the most memorable books of recent years.

Review by Jamie of the Borders on 2009-01-28 11:27:18
Bookseller review

The Book Thief

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Review by of the Preston Borders on 2009-01-28 17:03:01
Bookseller review

Wonderful!

Narrated by death, this book might not be for everyone but it is a haunting and moving account of one girls war time experiences.

Review by Mel - Bookseller of the Leeds - Birstall Borders on 2009-01-29 11:18:10
Bookseller review

Book Thief

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Review by Johan Badenhorst of the York Borders on 2009-01-30 12:14:16
Bookseller review

Moving and Thoughtfull

This unique novel is rapidly becoming a classic. It deals not just with the holocaust but with the ideology that brought the nazis to power. Moving and meaningfull it should be ready by old and young alike.

Review by Bunmi of the Edinburgh - Fort Kinnaird Borders on 2009-02-01 10:40:19
Bookseller review

Such A Great Book

After having read this book I was quite upset to have to put it down. I found it absolutely brilliant but at the same time it was rather poignant.

Review by Charlotte of the Coventry Borders on 2009-06-11 15:58:58
Bookseller review

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief is AMAZING! I sobbed my eyes out through the whole of Part Ten, finished the book, and started it again straight away. If possible, it was even better the second time round. A thought-provoking and poignant read, which will undoubtedly stay with me forever.

Review by Jenny of the Stockport Borders on 2009-06-20 16:37:19
Heart wrenching, innovative and truly unique...

Before reading The Book Thief, I honestly can’t remember ever simultaneously shedding both happy and heartbroken tears over a novel before. It tugged at my heartstrings and toyed with me from beginning to end.
I found myself so absorbed in the life of Liesel Meminger and her foster family that even when the book was tucked securely in my bag or laid safely next to my bed at night, she was still on my mind.
It is a piece of truly unique prose, narrated by Death, a dry, darkly comedic presence who takes an interest in the life of one little girl. He is a curious narrator, pre-empting events before they occur. This leaves little suspense for the reader, however intensifies their anticipation.
Set in 1939, Nazi Germany, Liesel’s parents are in concentration camps. She lives with her gentle, loving, accordion playing foster father and her kind-hearted, loud-mouthed foster mother. When they accept a Jew into their basement though, their lives change drastically.
Liesel’s intense love of books and reading is something that endeared to me. I fell in love with her as a character and I am struggling to put into words what an impact this book had on me.
For me, it is one of those novels I am able to recount tiny details of, months after finishing it. A compelling, absorbing and utterly fantastic read.

Review by Karen Ridley on 14:04, 04 Apr 2008

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Book Thief By Markus Zusak

Set in Nazi Germany 1939 the seen is set for a dark and bloody landscape.
War is everywhere and Death has never been busier, he is a character that we'd all like to ignore.
Death narrates this story and he does it so well, yet at the same time you are shocked by his humour.
On one of his collections Death comes across a little girl called Lisel the "Book Thief".
Death becomes interested by this child who steals books and can't read.
The book follows the little girls life through her time in a foster home and her book stealing escapades.
The ironic thing at the start of the story is that she is watched by Death and the first book she steals is The Gravediggers Handbook.
I admire Zusak for his brilliant talent of writing and his idea of a book narrated by Death is even more admirable!
What a character Death is, you almost warm to him, but as Death so kindly reminds us "Here is a small fact, You are going to die" and so starts his story.

Review by Ashley Tidman on 14:04, 04 Apr 2008

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The Book Thief (11 of 20 competition)

A book in which death is the narrator is an odd concept, but one that worked for me, adding the interesting dimension of someone on the outside looking in, other than just me. This is an amazing story about living in a world where the only way to survive is by keeping secrets and pretending everything is normal. Liesel, is a young girl growing up with the horrors of Nazi Germany, further complicated by her love of books.
This is a brilliant story, but more than that, a lesson from history.

Review by Alison Kwiatkowska on 14:04, 04 Apr 2008

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