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The Book Thief (Definitions) [Paperback]

Markus Zusak (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,049 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 3 Jan 2008 | Series: Definitions

It is 1939. In Nazi Germany, the country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier - and will become busier still.

By her brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed forever when she picks up a single object, abandoned in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, and this is her first act of book thievery. So begins Liesel's love affair with books and words, and soon she is stealing from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library . . . wherever there are books to be found.

But these are dangerous times, and when Liesel's foster family hides a Jew in their basement, nothing will ever be the same again.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

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The Book Thief (Definitions) + Metaphysical Poetry (Penguin Classics) + Sylvia Plath - Selected Poems (Faber Poetry)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 592 pages
  • Publisher: Definitions (Young Adult) (3 Jan 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 186230291X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1862302914
  • Product Dimensions: 13.2 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,049 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 76,585 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Amazon Review

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak was the best-selling debut literary novel of the year 2007, selling over 400,000 copies. The author is a prize-winning writer of children's books, and this, his first novel for adults, proved to be a triumphant success. The book is extraordinary on many levels: moving, yet restrained, angry yet balanced -- and written with the kind of elegance found all too rarely in fiction these days. The book's narrator is nothing less than Death itself, regaling us with a remarkable tale of book burnings, treachery and theft. The book never forgets the primary purpose of compelling the reader's attention, yet which nevertheless is able to impart a cogent message about the importance of words, particularly in those societies which regard the word as dangerous (the book is set during the Nazi regime, but this message is all too relevant in many places in the world today).

Nine-year-old Liesel lives with her foster family on Himmel Street during the dark days of the Third Reich. Her Communist parents have been transported to a concentration camp, and during the funeral for her brother, she manages to steal a macabre book: it is, in fact, a gravediggers’ instruction manual. This is the first of many books which will pass through her hands as the carnage of the Second World War begins to hungrily claim lives. Both Liesel and her fellow inhabitants of Himmel Street will find themselves changed by both words on the printed page and the horrendous events happening around them.

Despite its grim narrator, The Book Thief is, in fact, a life-affirming book, celebrating the power of words and their ability to provide sustenance to the soul. Interestingly, the Second World War setting of the novel does not limit its relevance: in the 20th century, totalitarian censorship throughout the world is as keen as ever at suppressing books (notably in countries where the suppression of human beings is also par for the course) and that other assault on words represented by the increasing dumbing-down of Western society as cheap celebrity replaces the appeal of books for many people, ensures that the message of Marcus Zusak’s book could not be more timely. It is, in fact, required reading -- or should be in any civilised country. --Barry Forshaw --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

"A beautifully balanced piece of storytelling . . . Unsettling, thought-provoking, life affirming, triumphant and tragic, this is a novel of breathtaking scope, masterfully told. It is an important piece of work, but also a wonderful page-turner" (Guardian 2007-01-06)

"A weighty novel worthy of universal acclaim . . . Beautifully written" (Daily Express 2007-01-05)

"A moving work which will make many eyes brim" (Independent on Sunday)

"Brilliant and hugely ambitious" (New York Times)

"Zusak doesn't sugarcoat anything, but he makes his ostensibly gloomy subject bearable the same way Kurt Vonnegut did in Slaughterhouse-Five: with grim, darkly consoling humor" (Time Magazine)
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
167 of 174 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Another humdinger 14 Mar 2008
By Mr. Peter Steward
Format:Paperback
I really can't believe that in the first three months of the year I have come across three gems in "A Thousand Splendid Suns," "A Quiet Belief in Angels" and now "The Book Thief." Each of these books is different but they are all stunning in their own individual way.

The Book Thief is highly original, although it did remind me somewhat of my book of the year for 2007 "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas." The subject matter for both books is the Nazification of Germany. Both books look at things from the perspective of a child growing up in the most turbulent of times and both have a child-like simplicity that just adds to their powers.

The Book Thief is a beautiful book from start to finish. Indeed at times it is more of a scrapbook of a life than a novel. It has a strangeness that only enhances the subject matter. For a start it is narrated by death. But this never detracts from the shape or power of the novel as young lives are slowly ripped apart in a German Town where poverty is rife.

The central character Liesel has a beautiful calmness of spirit. She always seems to be on the verge of re-alisation whilst still retaining the fragility of childhood. Slowly and gradually the evil unfolds before her as she becomes aware of the fate of the Jews in a town where she is thrust as an unwilling refugee.

In her adopted father Hans Hubermann, Zusak has created one of those unforgettable men of strength and kindness. At first when Liesel is thrust into the Hubermann household I was expecting a hard-hearted couple keen to take the small amount of money that Lisel brings with her but not so keen to give her the love that she craves. Nothing could be more from the truth.... Read more ›
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A chance encounter 5 Mar 2011
By John Bower
Format:Paperback
A chance encounter and recommendation of this book at a conference led to me purchasing and reading it. And I have thoroughly enjoyed it. The Book Thief, a young girl adopted by a German family just before the second world war seems deprived of everything except her desire to learn to read. This leads to book stealing and night time readings with her step father whom she adores. The war, when it comes, complicates things especially as the family is hiding a Jew in the basement, but she has extra support from a local boy. The writing style is fascinating, with interjected paragraphs in bold stylized print, making points or emphasising a part of the story. This takes a bit of getting used to but after the first few chapters, I found myself looking forward to these interruptions. It's a very different book but a good story and a good read.
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206 of 219 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Just read it!!! 22 Feb 2008
By A. Hope
Format:Paperback
I am not sure how to describe this book - without either giving too much away - or making it sound depressing and grisely which it is not at all. Suffice to say this is a novel narrated by death. It is the story of a young girl living in Nazi Germany, who goes to live with a foster family,and learns to read, and falls in love with: books, her new Papa, a boy called Rudy, and a Jew hiding in a basement. It is also a story of WW2 - from a persepective we don't often see - ordinaary Germans - some of whom were members of "The Party."

Death takes the reader by the hand, and leads us through the lives and deaths of people in Liesel's world, he kind of "gives the game away" a few times - and yet that never spoils it - it prepares the reader for what's ahead.
This is an astonishing book - the writing is great - an unusual style - but one that fits perfectly somehow with the voice of Death - and that of the unforgettable Liesel.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant! 16 Jan 2008
By Boof TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
I have just finnished reading The Book Thief and alredy there is a gaping hole where this book has been for the last 3 days. What an unexpected gem this has been.

I had seen this in book shops for months and had picked it up and put it down again so many times that I finally decided to give it ago based on so many positive reviews on Amazon. I'm so glad I did. For the last 3 days of my life I have been immersed in the life of a young German girl during World War 2 and although the book prepares the reader almost from the beginning for what is going to happen I wasn't prepared for the ending to pack such an emotional punch.

The book itself is narrated by Death (not the Grim Reaper image that most of us have, but a figure who roams the world collecting the souls of the newly departed and gently taking them away with him.) Death tells the story of Liesel, a young girl who has been placed with foster parents in a poor part of Munich and we follow her story throughout the war. We are told from the start that most of the characters we meet will die but because we spend so long with them and become so involved in their lives, it doesn't make it any less shocking by the end of the book.

This book is brilliant in the way that it manages to avoid the gory detials of war but involves us in the day to day lives of some of those who lived through it. It is so important that we never forget what happened during that time and that there were so many wonderful, selfless people out there that were prepared to help others.

I highly recommend this book and I'm sure it is one that will stay with me for a long time.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Unusual but great
I wasn't quite sure how i would find this book but the reviews were good and I wasn't disappointed.It is well written and very moving. Read more
Published 20 hours ago by Happy Reader 8
5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant
Took this book on holiday - thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn't put it down. Interesting looking at perspective from a poor, ordinary German family trying to survive Nazi Germany. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Andrea Bywater
4.0 out of 5 stars Good. Unable to see the words & drawings of the journal too small
I was unable to read the print on my kindle as the drawings and words were too small in the journal. Otherwise I really enjoyed this book.

Jan
Published 7 days ago by Mr Paul D Crouch
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
It arrived quite fast and i'm half way trough the book. I like it but it hasn't put that spell on me, the one when you love a book and just want to sit and read it and you have it... Read more
Published 9 days ago by paula
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully written gem
A poignant and, at times, heartbreaking read. I Just loved the style of writing. The "Word Shaker "is something I will never forget.
Published 10 days ago by Arya
4.0 out of 5 stars Movie material
Moving and emotive a very strong and totally absorbing read I spent a lot of time putting actors to the characters
Published 12 days ago by Lfb
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
Simply the best book ever... Couldn't put it down, it was a pleasure to read and I shall make sure to read it again!
Published 13 days ago by l frodsham
5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read
Just loved it!! I could not put this book down! If you set yourself a challenge to read one book in your lifetime make sure it's this one :)
Published 13 days ago by S. Bedford
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
There is so much heartache, love & compassion in this book that it kept me gripped to the end.It was interesting to read about WWII from the other side & especially a child's and... Read more
Published 13 days ago by maria-luisa puig
4.0 out of 5 stars The book thief
This is a story of a girl and her family and friends during the second world war in a small village in Germany. Read more
Published 14 days ago by marilu
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