- Paperback: 592 pages
- Publisher: Doubleday; Airport/Export ed edition (3 July 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0385611471
- ISBN-13: 978-0385611473
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.2 x 4.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (780 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 215,369 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Book Thief
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk 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
"* 'Deserves a place on the shelf with The DIary of Anne Frank - set to become a classic' - USA Today * 'Absorbing and searing' - Washington Post * 'Zusak makes his ostensibly gloomy subject bearable in the same way Kurt Vonnegut did in Slaughterhouse 5, with grim, darkly consoling humour' - Time * 'Zusak's playfulness with language leavens the horror and makes the theme more resonant - words can save your life...It's a measure of how sucessfully Zusak has humanized these characters that even though we know they are doomed, it's no less devastating when Death finally reaches them' - Publishers' Weekly"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
116 of 121 people found the following review helpful
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. Hans is open with his love and support whilst is wife is softer than she would ever want anybody to know.
There are passages where the book appears to be meandering and nothing much seems to be happening. There is a war on, but it isn't hugely affecting those involved in the story. But then you realise, almost by chance, that it is affecting every character, sometime directly and sometimes in a rather subtler way (if war can be subtle). Then comes a cataclysmic climax that is both sad and uplifting.
This is a very unusual book. It is a delight to read and never stodgy and once again I can only highly recommend it.
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. Hans is open with his love and support whilst is wife is softer than she would ever want anybody to know.
There are passages where the book appears to be meandering and nothing much seems to be happening. There is a war on, but it isn't hugely affecting those involved in the story. But then you realise, almost by chance, that it is affecting every character, sometime directly and sometimes in a rather subtler way (if war can be subtle). Then comes a cataclysmic climax that is both sad and uplifting.
This is a very unusual book. It is a delight to read and never stodgy and once again I can only highly recommend it.
191 of 202 people found the following review helpful
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.
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.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I'm sure you have read some of the other reviews which give a good summary of the story so to avoid repetition I'll refrain. What I will share however is how I became immersed in this book just a few pages in. I grew to love Himmel Street and its many characters. Strangely though the inevitable ending which is foretold in the book does nothing to ease the emotion felt when the story is finally concluded. Normally this type of book would not be my cup of tea but there is just something indefinably special about it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fantastic!!!
This book has already so many great reviews, i thought why write one more? Well, because i could not stop myself! BOOK THIEF is FANTASTIC!! Read more
Published 1 day ago by Maria.f
Life amongst death; Death amongst life. Beautifully written - read...
You might think that a book narrated by Death, whose subject is a fostered girl - Liesel Meminger - wrenched from her birth family, growing up in Nazi Germany between 1939 and 1943... Read more
Published 4 days ago by David Herdson
Just didn't like it that much
I read many reviews and people's "top books to read" lists, and this book just didn't meet my expectations. Read more
Published 5 days ago by Robb Cayford
A FANTASTIC BOOK AND A MUST READ!
Review 7 out of 5
I will start by saying that I had never heard of The Book Thief before I was given a copy to read for World Book Night. Read more
I will start by saying that I had never heard of The Book Thief before I was given a copy to read for World Book Night. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Lynn Worton
Disappointing
I really thought that this book was going to be a gripping page turning. In the end I not wait to turn the page to finish. I was really disappointed by this book. Read more
Published 8 days ago by coledt1
The "lovely" Book Theif
Loved this book, we read it for our book club. I loved it but turned out to have mixed reviews. The thought of "Death" being quite funny, sneaky and likeable kept me spellbound... Read more
Published 12 days ago by Sparkle1234
Immense
The Book Thief is one of the best books I have ever read, it's as simple as that. The narrative voice is convincing and innovative, the characters are well developed and the plot... Read more
Published 12 days ago by Book Police
found by accident
I enjoy reading chick lit or thrillers, this is neither, I don't remember how I came to be blessed by this story, I feel like a cheat writing a review as I haven't finished it yet,... Read more
Published 14 days ago by nih
Clever and enjoyable
The book Thief is an enjoyable read. Which I didn't expect given the setting. But I soon got engrossed in the lives of the characters and found the passages narrated by death very... Read more
Published 14 days ago by Kate
Not Everyone`s taste
After all the reviews, and a recommendation, I put this book on my kindle for holiday. Try as I may, I could not get into the stride of the style of writing. Read more
Published 14 days ago by country mouse
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