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    The Book Thief
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    The Book Thief
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    The Book Thief
    Audiobook13 hours

    The Book Thief

    Written by Markus Zusak

    Narrated by Allan Corduner

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    DON'T MISS BRIDGE OF CLAY, MARKUS ZUSAK'S FIRST NOVEL SINCE THE BOOK THIEF.

    The extraordinary #1 New York Times bestseller that is now a major motion picture, Markus Zusak's unforgettable story is about the ability of books to feed the soul.

    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.

    Editor's Note

    Intricate tale...

    Even Death, the narrator of Zusak's award-winning masterpiece, is moved by the life of Liesel, who steals books despite the Nazi book burnings. Death tells this intricate tale from a poignant & philosophical perspective.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateSep 19, 2006
    ISBN9780739337288
    Unavailable
    The Book Thief
    Author

    Markus Zusak

    Markus Zusak is the award-winning author of The Book Thief and I Am the Messenger, both Michael L. Printz Honor Books. Markus Zusak's writing career began in high school, where he led a "pretty internal existence. . . . I always had stories in my head. So I started writing them." He lives with his wife and two children in Sydney, Australia, where he is currently working on his new novel Bridge of Clay.

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    Reviews for The Book Thief

    4.5/5

    13,247 ratings1142 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I liked this book but it didn't put me under the spell that seemed to grab a lot of other readers. Don't know why. The characters didn't quite become real to me.
    • 5/5
      I love this book and recommend it highly. In fact, if it's not on your TBR list, add it now. I noticed from the first page that the author creates an atmosphere than can be smelled -which is not easy with words, as well as tapping into all of one's senses. I loved the narritve. The book was incredibly poetic as well as a thriller. When an author finds a clever and different way to tell a story, and can do it with what seems effortlessness, that is the kind of book I love. This book tells the story of Germans in the midst of their Nazi leaders. There is obvious foreshadowing which goes against the grain of everything my high school English teacher taught, but it is told in a way that increases your interest and encourages you to read on. The characters open their hearts and invite you into their world. It's one of my favorite books of all time.
    • 5/5
      Oh my gosh, I'm sobbing like crazy

      This was a really hard book to review. I usually wait only like a day at most to write my reviews, so my ideas are still fresh in my mind but I'm not a blubbering, post-book idiot incapable of forming coherent sentences. And with this book, I just couldn't really figure out how to say how I felt throughout. I guess all I can really say is this, and forgive me if it makes no sense hah:

      I really liked the story, the characters, the pacing, the writing, the core concept of Death as a narrator. It was full of personality and unapologetically emotional. I loved it, and I highly suggest it if you haven't read it already.
    • 4/5
      This book is told by the point of view of Death during the start of WWII and follows Liesel and Rudy. It will pull at your heart the way the characters try to survive on Himmel Street as they struggle with what is going on with Hitler that they don't understand and don't believe in. It's another side to what went on back in that horrible time.
    • 5/5
      The setting is Germany 1939, and the narrator is Death. That was the reason I didn't read the book sooner. Didn't matter the many reviews singing its praises and telling there was humour in it. So, why did I read it? A read-along with Jen from Cuidado com o Dálmata and p7 from Bookeater/Booklover.And yes, it's set during World War II, and in no way the author sugar-coated any of it. There is Death and deaths aplenty, like expected. And like all the reviews seemed to point to, it was a really good book.The voice in which Death (and here I was expecting Terry Pratchett's DEATH) tells the story is rather unique. A mixture of satirical and resigned acceptance of the human nature. I really loved the way Death described the colour of the sky, how it changes – I think I'll never look at the sky quite in the same way. Death also loves spoilers, and starts this book by telling the three moments she meets with Liesel, the star of this story. The first time, and this is when the story-proper begins, Liesel is 9, and she just lost her brother when they were on their way to Molching to be adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Hubermann. Liesel has her first encounter with Death, but also her first moment of thievery, for she is The Book Thief.And so begin the adventures of Liesel in Himmel Street. Her new Mama, Rosa, is a source of new vocabulary, specially in terms of insults. Papa Hans is a wonderful man that eases this little girl into her new life, with his accordion, and late night vigils. And then there is Rudy, who dreams he is Jesse Owens and tries time and time again to win a kiss from Liesel. But there are more characters, of course. Late additions include the mayor's wife, who helps the Book Thief have access to books, in more ways than one; and Max, the Jewish fist-fighter, who comes collecting an old promise, and brightens Liesel's life. The characters are amazing, but I have a special fondness for Rudy, Hans and Max. They help Liesel, each in their own way, and each of them has their own strengths.But let's not forget this is set in World War II. I'm not fond of that period of history, and I usually don't like literature about it. There are exceptions, of course (Everything is Illuminated is one of them, but probably because it focuses so little on WWII), and this book just joined the club. I really liked that we had a view of German families, not Jewish, and not exactly wealthy. And how some, fitting the superior race profile, didn't really care for Nazi politics.The writing style was another thing that I also liked. It was concise (some would say choppy), but in a few words the author managed to write beautiful and so truthful sentences. I also loved the little asides, that presented the facts, or definitions, needed to continue with the story, without really breaking its flow.I enjoyed the book a lot, a good book, I kept thinking throughout the first 9 parts of it. But it was the 10th that did it. It's tragic and sad, and for once I was glad of Death's spoilers, I could ease my heart a bit, getting ready for what was to come. Yet it caught me by surprise, and oh, how my heart ached with Liesel's. Fear not, there is a bit of an happy ending. And speaking of endings, this is a book that ends beautifully – with Death saying: “I am haunted by humans.”Also at Spoilers and Nuts
    • 4/5
      Liesel, a young girl growing up on the outskirts of Munich, helps her foster parents hide a Jewish man in their basement.You've heard a lot of good things about this book, and they're true. Every one of 'em.It's tempting, I think, to consider any Holocaust-related book as yet another story about how terrible the Nazis were, but THE BOOK THIEF is a great deal more than that. It's about regular Germans who are caught in the middle and have formed their own conclusions about what's going on around them. It's beautiful and brutal, and it is most definitely worth your time.*** AND NOW, A WARNING ***THE BOOK THIEF may be marketedas YA in Canada and the US, butdon't think that means Zusak isgonna pull his punches.He isn't.Death narrates the story, and he's blunt behind his fancy language. He doesn't try to shield us; he's frank about the horrors of war and the depredations of humanity, and he doesn't stint on the spoilers. We quickly learn who does or doesn't make it through to the end.But for all that, it's not an overly depressing story. I mean, it is depressing, but there's so much hope and so much beauty that the sorrow never becomes overwhelming. Liesel and her friends are enmeshed in a difficult situation, and parts of their story had me in tears, but Zusak never lets the reader lose sight of the people at the heart of the drama. This is their story; it's about what they refuse to let go of, no matter how bad things get. He shows us the little bits and pieces that make up their lives, and there are far more kind moments than cruel ones. Papas teach their new daughters to roll cigarettes. Mamas show their love with gruff insults. Grieving women reach out in surprising ways.That's not to say that the cruel moments weigh little. They don't. They are brutal. Every time I started to get complacent, every time I started to think that maybe everything was going to be all right after all, Zusak bashed me so hard I was in tears before I knew it. Even though Death tells you straight out what's gonna go down, I never believed him. I couldn't believe him. He was lying for the sake of narrative effect, and that was that. And I'll tell you, it's brilliantly done. The kindness and the cruelty exist alongside one another, just as they do in real life, and you let the narrator trick you because you'd collapse in on yourself if you didn't.I also appreciated the book's structure. I found it cinematic in feel; it's composed of many small scenes and recollections that effectively act as jolts, forcing us to shift our focus and reevaluate the story at every turn. I found the structure quite effective. It drew me in and forced me to evaluate everything for myself. I couldn't read it quickly, but neither could I tear myself away. I became so immersed in it that I found myself thinking in the book's style.*** MEMORY THINKS IN STRANGE WAYS ***When she reads lots of graphic novels,she thinks in word bubbles.Now that she's finished THE BOOK THIEF,she's thinking in big bold blocks.(Be thankful that I didn't write the whole review in said big bold blocks. I was mighty tempted).And on top of all that, we've got scads about books and literacy and the power of the word. You'd better believe I was all over that.So it's true, what you've heard. This isn't a pleasant book, but it's a worthwhile one in which kindness and love run alongside the cruelty of war. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend that you do so.(A slightly different version of this review originally appeared on my blog, Stella Matutina).
    • 4/5
      Overall, I really enjoyed The Book Thief. Is it the best book I’ve ever read? No. Did it change my life? No. But I can see how it has the capacity to make a huge impact on readers, especially younger readers who do not understand the full scope of the Holocaust. By putting several very human faces on an important and painful era in world history, Zusak transforms the Holocaust from an abstract concept into a horrible thing that people did to other people. But he also spotlights the ways in which individuals reached out, despite the threat of death, to help and save others, and he shows that one person who is willing to step out and make the right decision really can make a difference.Read my full review at The Book Lady's Blog.
    • 5/5
      I may be one of the last people on the Planet to read this book, it was so hyped and popular I was sure I would hate it. Wrong. Amazing book, I really cannot find fault with it. A unique story told from a fascinating perspective, with no retreaded story lines or artifice. Cannot wait for my girls to read it; at the right times for them to truly appreciate it's wonder.
    • 5/5
      Liesel' life changes for better and for worst after being placed in the care Hans and Rosa Huberman.Her love of words causes her to steal and her love for the Jew her family are hiding causes her to risk her life.
    • 4/5
      This was a tough one to fall asleep to. The narrator reminded me of Neil Gaiman. It was a WW2 story of a young German girl who endures much loss, love, and loss. It's told from the point of view of death, and death is full of spoilers. It's touching and sad and at times melodramatic - lovely and difficult.
    • 4/5
      Powerful - I didn't expect to be as moved by this book as I was.Powerful, poetic, and achingly human, the portrayal of what it's like to be an ordinary person in WWII Germany, with all its suffering and fear, is vivid and feels very real.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book. I always like to read about someone else who loves reading. This was both an uplifting book, and a depressing book. It is set in Nazi Germany, during the war, and just the desperation and the poverty at the time is so depressing. Add in the plight of the Jewish people at the time, and this book becomes very sad. The bright part of the book is Liesel, and her discovery of books and reading. She brings a small amount of joy to those around her.

      The book employs Death as the narrator of the story, and switches off between his narration, and a more straight forward telling of Liesel's story. The idea of Death as a narrator is intriguing, but I did not like the execution here. Everytime Death jumped in to narrate, I felt jarred out of the story. Also, he did a lot of foreshadowing, which I did not appreciate.

      Overall, I thought this was a good book, and I am glad I got to read it.
    • 4/5
      BOTTOM-LINE:Solid read, not sure about the message.PLOT OR PREMISE:A young girl uses stolen books to distract herself from the reality of living in Nazi Germany in WWII while hiding a Jewish man in her basement..WHAT I LIKED:It is incredibly difficult to know how to review this book. The second half moves along at a much quicker pace and with much higher stakes. The book is narrated by Death / Grim Reaper, and the chapter headings give glimpses of what is to come. There are some red herrings near the end, implying one ending while leading to another, but overall it is pretty solid. The characters are lively, the girl is outstanding, and there are glimpses of her family that offer rare moments of joy and love. And it moved me to tears at the end..WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:It is hard to accept the implied message that "most Germans were good / nice", it was just the Nazis that were bad people. And even the storyline written by the Jewish man in the basement is that it is all because of the Fuhrer, that Hitler is the only truly evil one. There are parts of it that read like almost an apology for Nazism rather than a sense of accountability for the nation's deeds. The extra materials at the end tell how the author was inspired by his grandparents' accounts of the ordinariness (in some ways) of the war in Germany for Germans - something that happened around them, or to them, not committed by them. In terms of the writing, the first half is a bit slow and dull, and the constant foreshadowing is repetitive and annoying at the start, less so at the end. The caricature of the mother is ridiculous; she only becomes human near the end. Finally, and this is a bit of a spoiler, the story ends rather abruptly, leaving out a huge opportunity to tell some more story. I know this book is aimed at teens and is hugely popular, but I would not wants someone relying on this book as their only source of history..DISCLOSURE:I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow him on social media.
    • 5/5
      This book can only be described one way, a classic. It's words were like a literary hug... Each one surrounded me, embraced, and slowly seeped into my blood stream. Their impact pulled me in with turmoil and surrounded me with tragedy. It wasn't an easy book to read, but it's one I will never forget.

      Liesel may just be my favorite heroine of all time. Her gentleness and immaturity grew into raw bravery and her ugly journey was full of hope. Her story starts with her brother dying and her mother giving her away. She ends up with adoptive parents and a world full of questions. The aggravating boy next door becomes her best friend/first love and a jew moves into her basement. One thing ties all of these things together... Words. The simple, yet complex act of reading brings her family and friends closer. Her papa teaches her love through ink on pages and in the end she returns the favor. Stealing books becomes her thing and what a thing it is...

      My heart was filled to the brim while reading this book. It's a different type of historical with a new take on the enemy side. I found myself confused, angry, and sad, but most importantly... overwhelmed by how educated I felt once I finished. The narrator was a unique twist and helped pack the hard punch the story needed. I don't want to say I loved it because to love a story so full of tragedy is a tad morbid, but I did love the overall execution and grit that lined the pages. I loved the love between the characters and I loved the bittersweet ending.
    • 5/5
      A view of the other side of Nazi Germany, the germans who weren't Nazis but trapped in and trying to survive. Narrated by Death who tells the story of a young girl growing up in a small town outside Munich. Forced an orphan because of her mother's marxist views, then fostered to parents who lived in the heart of Nazis who they despised. Although the story circles around young Liesel it introduces you to many characters young and old who all in their own way are trying to deal with the nazis around them and survive a war that none of them want. One of Liesel's best friends is Max a Jew hidden their basement. Between Max and her foster father Hans she learns to about words and the power they bring. At one point she theorizes that if there were no words then would be no Nazis because it is only through the power of words that they were able to brainwash a country. It really is a beautiful story that I hated to end even though a lot of it was very ugly.
    • 5/5
      Easily the best Young Adult book that I have ever read. An amazing story that remains interesting and emotional throughout the entirety of the tale. A great yarn and one that is not easily forgotten. Top-notch!
    • 5/5


      One of the most beautiful books I've ever read. That is all I can say. The language is so gorgeous, it makes me cry. Thank you, Markus Zusak!
    • 4/5
      This novel about a young girl in Nazi Germany is billed as young adult fiction, but it was a great read for this old adult. The book is becoming a classic, and deserves its glowing reputation. The characters (even Death!) are believable and (mostly) endearing. The plotting keeps the story moving right along, as does the reader's desire to know how it all turns out. There are some things that reminded me that it was a young adult novel -- among them, a habit of telling the reader things that the characters have already made clear. Overall, however, it's an excellent book.
    • 4/5
      A powerful story of little people in a little town in Germany during World War 2. While the book is narrated by Death, and delivers a seemingly unrelenting tale of misfortune, the underlying message is one of hope. I was totally captivated. The writing is deceptively simple, but there is some wonderful crafting going on - the lead character, Liesel, matures imperceptibly and realistically as the book progresses, allowing for more complex responses to the worsening environment.A great read.
    • 4/5
      Because I kept seeing this on the "Must Read" book list, I thought I'd explore it and see what drew people in. It offered a unique spin on its unreliable narrator. While having Death act as the narrator is not a new factor, the way portions of the story are broken down does show something different. My difficulty is they keep knocking me from the story. They're too frequent.This is not the story I was expecting when I heard this was a very popular book. I'm glad the domestic abuse isn't detailed, as I'd have to drop the book for something else if it were.This was a strange, meandering story, with a good limited point of view. At least until we add this latest twist. The addition of them hiding someone in their basement adjusted how the book moved and seemed to slow things down.This story is more depressing than a few others I've read this year. Wow. But it is true to the time period it was written about. I'm not sure I can give it more than the 3.5 stars I've offered.
    • 5/5
      This is one of the best books I've read in quite a while, and I loved that the book was narrated by Death. A fabulous story.
    • 5/5
      I try to always take book recommendations to heart. I almost always add them immediately to my ‘to read’ list very earnestly so I don’t forget them. But I have to be honest, they often languish there longer than books I get interested in from other sources. ‘The Book Thief’, by Markus Zusak was recommended to me, as a school librarian, by teachers, parents, students, well- everybody. It was recommended to me so many times, I had no doubt it must be special. For some reason, in the least logical part of my brain, popularity can count against a book- another flaw in trying to improve. While appropriate for young audiences and focusing on a young girl as the central character, this is one of those books with such great characters, not dumbing down plot or emotion as an insult to its young readers. The story was cinematic, rich and beautiful. Tough subjects like the rise of the Nazis in Germany, poverty and coming of age are treated with insight into the point of view of a child living through them. Parents might want to know it mentions war and death, adult use of alcohol and tobacco is a background mention.
    • 5/5
      Death narrates the story of an orphan living in a small village outside Munich with her adopted parents during World War II. While he goes about his job (it's a busy period of him), Death is fascinated with the strange behavior of people living under Hitler's regime. When Liesel, the orphan, steals her first book, she does not know how to read it. She learns. Then more books are stolen, but for intriguing reasons. The characters are well drawn; the story draws you in (well, Death draws you in--he is constantly foreshadowing looming catastrophes, big and small). It's a satisfying read, ending, as expected, in tragedy, but with a sliver of hope. I was left in tears, and that happens almost never! The author, btw, is Australian.
    • 5/5
      Death narrates the story of orphan Liesel, her quirky new family, her addiction to books and the jew in their basement.
    • 5/5
      The narrator, Death, relates the story of Liesel and her life of stealing books. Liesel family hides a Jewish prisoner during World War II. Gr. 9-12
    • 5/5
      Narrated by Death, the story of Liesel Meminger, a young girl living outside Munich in Nazi Germany who steals something she can't resist, books. Soon she is stealing from Nazi-book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever they are to be found.
    • 5/5
      Narration by Death whom has quite a sense of humor and is not without a heart.
      He tells the story of Liesal, the loss of her brother, how he came upon her existence in Nazi Germany. how she becomes The Book Thief, etc.
      The writing sucks you in immediately and you'll not want to put the book down. Has anyone thought of Death as compassionate? As good? As someone that doesn't want to do his job, but has to and is good at it?
      And what happens to Death if a little girl should see him taking her little brother?
      This book is by far the best I've read thus far. The author has a talent for words and story telling!
    • 5/5
      One of my all time favorite books, I cannot thank Markus Zusak enough for giving us this amazing book. The Book Thief is about Liesel Meminger a young girl who lives in Germany during WWII. I was a little wary of reading it at first when I heard the book was narrated from Death's point of view, however, I decided to give it a read and I was enthralled from the beginning. The way Zusak wrote Death was different then what I assumed Death would act like, instead of Death being mean spirited and scary, he was tired. Tired of war of, working for dictators. Death was plain exhausted. Death also finds a fascination in Liesel a young girl who decides to rebel by stealing books. The writing style was different from most books I've read. The interjections death had throughout the book gave a insight into the narrator and gave a refreshing change of writing styles.

      All of the characters were relatable and believable. From Hans and Rosa to Rudy and Max. They all gave new insights into what went on for the people who lived in WWII Germany. The book was amazing and memorable and truthfully I cannot write enough words to give it the justice it deserves. If you haven't go out to your nearest bookstore/order if from Amazon and read it right away.

      5/5 Stars
    • 5/5
      Beautifully written, engaging, heartbreaking and heartwarming! One of the best books I have read in years.
    • 5/5
      LOVE THIS BOOK!