The Book Thief
The unforgettable and heart-rending modern classic beloved by over 17 million readers
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4.6 • 370 Ratings
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- £5.99
Publisher Description
THE MODERN CLASSIC WITH OVER 17 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE
The extraordinary, beloved novel about the ability of books to feed the soul even in the darkest of times.
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 neighbours during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.
A timeless novel about the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of stories, perfect for readers of Babel by R. F. Kuang, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.
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'The kind of book that can be life-changing' New York Times
'The writing is so vivid you'll remember it for the rest of your life.' James Patterson
'Life affirming, triumphant and tragic... masterfully told... a wonderful page-turner.' Guardian
DON’T MISS BRIDGE OF CLAY, MARKUS ZUSAK’S FIRST NOVEL SINCE THE BOOK THIEF.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This hefty volume is an achievement a challenging book in both length and subject, and best suited to sophisticated older readers. The narrator is Death himself, a companionable if sarcastic fellow, who travels the globe "handing souls to the conveyor belt of eternity." Death keeps plenty busy during the course of this WWII tale, even though Zusak (I Am the Messenger) works in miniature, focusing on the lives of ordinary Germans in a small town outside Munich. Liesel Meminger, the book thief, is nine when she pockets The Gravedigger's Handbook, found in a snowy cemetery after her little brother's funeral. Liesel's father a "Kommunist" is already missing when her mother hands her into the care of the Hubermanns. Rosa Hubermann has a sharp tongue, but Hans has eyes "made of kindness." He helps Liesel overcome her nightmares by teaching her to read late at night. Hans is haunted himself, by the Jewish soldier who saved his life during WWI. His promise to repay that debt comes due when the man's son, Max, shows up on his doorstep. This "small story," as Death calls it, threads together gem-like scenes of the fates of families in this tight community, and is punctuated by Max's affecting, primitive artwork rendered on painted-over pages from Mein Kampf. Death also directly addresses readers in frequent asides; Zusak's playfulness with language leavens the horror and makes the theme even more resonant words can save your life. As a storyteller, Death has a bad habit of forecasting ("I'm spoiling the ending," he admits halfway through his tale). It's a measure of how successfully Zusak has humanized these characters that even though we know they are doomed, it's no less devastating when Death finally reaches them. Ages 12-up.
Customer Reviews
Love it
Such a great book. Really has a way with words and colours!
Heart wrenching and gripping read
Hooked from start to finish, I absolutely did not want this very unique book to end.
Heartbreakingly Beautiful
A beautifully written human story. This book touched my soul.