It is 1939. 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 when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordion-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found. But these are dangerous times.
When Liesel's foster family hides a Jewish fist-fighter in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up, and closed down. The Book Thief is a story about the power of words to make worlds.
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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Set in 1939 Nazi Germany, The Book Thief is a painfully beautiful view on the world at the time, narrated through the eyes of Death himself. One of the best books I've ever read. - Megan (QBD)
Guest, 02/02/2020
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One of my top favourite 3 reads EVER. Nothing more to say! - Joanne (QBD)
Guest, 30/01/2020
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Reading this book rendered me speechless. Unlike anything I have ever read, I was captured by it's unique and poetic portrayal of WWII as narrated by death. If you have a love for words or want a book that captures the beauty, hope and anguish of humanity, then this work of art is for you. - Lindsay (QBD)
Guest, 25/03/2017
The Book Thief
The Book Thief is unlike any book I have ever read before. The story is tragically beautiful and it will be the best book that you have read in years. Young Leisel Meminger shares her heartbreaking story growing up in Germany during World War II. Because this book exhibits such strong themes I would recommend it for a more mature audience. Reviewed by 01bh.
QDB, 03/09/2014
Part 2: The Book Thief
Leisel is a young girl and her words changed the lives of many people within her street, her story has touched the hearts of millions of readers around the world and even more through the movie adaptation.Is one of the most quotable books I own. I knew it would be when it started with - Heres a small fact you are going to die It built up so much intrigue that all you want to do is read and find out who is narrating this story and what is happening. The way it is written is different than anything else I have read, the narrator is new and unexpected, but perfect for this story. Overall thoughts I thought this book was amazing, mind-blowing, incredible but most of all beautiful The writing is amazing and the narration is like none other. I cannot fathom how much this book made me feel. It was just beautiful. It was so well done, the whole book was. Markus Zusak is an Australian Genius His writing is like music to the ears, poetry to the mind. Reviewed by S Toohey
QBD, 31/07/2014
Part 1: The Book Thief
It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. No one serves Hitler better than Death himself.Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living with Rosa and Hans Hubermann during World War II. She meets so many interesting characters along the way, like Rudy the young boy that befriends Leisel as well as Ilsa the woman that gives Leisel what she really wants during the war Books. A family friend turns up at their door, Max, who is Jewish. This story shows the hard ache of the average family living during the war, but also the heart break for the Jewish population. But in the end, this book isnt just another war novel, it is a story about a girl and her words, the ones she read and the ones she writes about. It shows that you dont have to be big, famous, known for your words to mean something, to mean the difference between life and death. Reviewed by S. Toohey
QBD, 31/07/2014
Part 2: The Book Thief
The library. Can I have a library like that Please That would be AMAZING As a total bookworm myself, I could really relate to Liesel in that sense. Honestly, this is probably only about the fifth book I've picked up about WWII and the first four were not only a few years ago, but were short and in a series that I grew very frustrated with I couldn't even bring myself to finish the last one. Anyway, I loved it and I appreciated the viewpoint from Germany itself - after all, not all Germans were Hitler-mad. All in all, I loved it and it is definitely on my list of books to buy Plus, it's pretty awesome that he's an Australian author - I really think that The Book Thief is going to become a classic. - Reviewed by Melissa Finger
Guest, 24/07/2014
Part 1: The Book Thief
It's been a long time since I had a book that gave me a good, long cry. The Book Thief was amazing, with flawed, loveable, relatable characters aside from Viktor Chemmel and Franx Deutscher who we're meant to hate, I loved all of the characters on a backdrop of one of the worst wars but in that finding hope, friendship and happiness. For some reason, it took me longer to read this book than it usually would, but that didn't make it any less beautiful.I loved Death and how he was portrayed. I loved the little bits and pieces that he put in and how he came across as a character. While I didn't quite understand the concept of the colours, I think I got the general sense of what he was on about. At first, the prologue didn't make sense, but it unravelled and revealed itself as we read on. Some people say that they didn't like Death narrating because he gives out spoilers on who's going to die - I actually quite liked these as they really ingrained with his character. -Melissa Finger
Guest, 24/07/2014
The Book Thief
A lyrical and poignant story with one of the most original and striking narrators. 'The Book Thief' will make you see how words have the power to either destroy or save lives. As reviewed by 08rz
Toombul, 22/07/2014
The Book Thief
The Book Thief was an extremely enjoyable book. Once I started reading it was almost impossible to put it down. This is a great and excellent novel.
Guest, 08/11/2013
