08th
Jun
Jun
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.
I have heard about ‘The Book Thief’
by Markus Zusak for a couple of years. Many times I was holding the book in my
hand, but somehow I never bought it. My mom read the book a view years ago and
always told me that it was such a great book. When the movie came out I decided
it was definitely time for me to start reading ‘The Book Thief’. I always try
to read the book before the movie so when I was packing my bags for Mexico two
weeks ago, I decided it was time to take this book with me. And I’m so glad I
finally started reading it.
by Markus Zusak for a couple of years. Many times I was holding the book in my
hand, but somehow I never bought it. My mom read the book a view years ago and
always told me that it was such a great book. When the movie came out I decided
it was definitely time for me to start reading ‘The Book Thief’. I always try
to read the book before the movie so when I was packing my bags for Mexico two
weeks ago, I decided it was time to take this book with me. And I’m so glad I
finally started reading it.
In ‘The Book Thief’ we follow the life
of Liesel Meminger. A 9 year old girl living in Germany in 1939 when the ‘Führer’
was ruling. The story is told through the eyes of ‘Death’. There is a lot going
on in Liesel’s life. Not only is Germany getting more and more controlled by
the ‘Führer’ but Liesel is also getting adopted and she is losing people she
loves. Slowly Liesel tries to find her way in her new life, with her new
parents. Fortunately Liesel loves her new dad Hans and she quickly becomes friends
with the boy next door Rudy.
of Liesel Meminger. A 9 year old girl living in Germany in 1939 when the ‘Führer’
was ruling. The story is told through the eyes of ‘Death’. There is a lot going
on in Liesel’s life. Not only is Germany getting more and more controlled by
the ‘Führer’ but Liesel is also getting adopted and she is losing people she
loves. Slowly Liesel tries to find her way in her new life, with her new
parents. Fortunately Liesel loves her new dad Hans and she quickly becomes friends
with the boy next door Rudy.
But Liesel is having a hard time in
school. She is very behind on school and doesn’t know how to read, but slowly
with the help of Hans, Liesel discovers the world of books and reading. And
soon books are Liesel’s escape in a hard world full of war and rules. Through
her love of books, Liesel finds new friends and learns how to help people in
need. When Liesel meets Max, a Jew born in 1916, she shares her passion with
him and soon they become friends. But life in Germany isn’t easy in this time
and soon everything Liesel knows and loves is about to change.
school. She is very behind on school and doesn’t know how to read, but slowly
with the help of Hans, Liesel discovers the world of books and reading. And
soon books are Liesel’s escape in a hard world full of war and rules. Through
her love of books, Liesel finds new friends and learns how to help people in
need. When Liesel meets Max, a Jew born in 1916, she shares her passion with
him and soon they become friends. But life in Germany isn’t easy in this time
and soon everything Liesel knows and loves is about to change.
Before I started in ‘The Book Thief’
I didn’t really know what I could expect about this book. I knew that the book
would take place in the time of the second World War but I couldn’t imagine why
this book was called ‘The Book Thief’. Although it took me a long time to start
in this book, I’m so happy that I finally read it. I loved this story. It took
me a little while to get used to the way this book was written. Through the
eyes of Death and with little notes throughout the book. But soon I was
completely compelled by this book. I couldn’t get enough and I really wanted to
know what would happen with Liesel, Max and Rudy. Even though this book takes
place in the time of the second World War, this book is filled with love and friendship.
There are parts where I couldn’t hold in my tears but that was to be expected.
I grew up with stories about the second World War but reading this book it made
me only realize more how hard it must have been to life in that time. And how scared
people must have been.
I didn’t really know what I could expect about this book. I knew that the book
would take place in the time of the second World War but I couldn’t imagine why
this book was called ‘The Book Thief’. Although it took me a long time to start
in this book, I’m so happy that I finally read it. I loved this story. It took
me a little while to get used to the way this book was written. Through the
eyes of Death and with little notes throughout the book. But soon I was
completely compelled by this book. I couldn’t get enough and I really wanted to
know what would happen with Liesel, Max and Rudy. Even though this book takes
place in the time of the second World War, this book is filled with love and friendship.
There are parts where I couldn’t hold in my tears but that was to be expected.
I grew up with stories about the second World War but reading this book it made
me only realize more how hard it must have been to life in that time. And how scared
people must have been.
The character I liked the most in
this book was definitely Liesel. I loved her journey to learn how to read and
how she developed such a passion with books. She was such a strong character.
There where so many bad things happening but Liesel kept strong and found a way
to escape from all the horror happening around her. The part when Liesel saw
how books where burned was just heartbreaking for me. I can’t imagine what that
would do to me. Books being burned is just an enormous crime in my eyes. But off
course there were much more terrible things happening in that time.
this book was definitely Liesel. I loved her journey to learn how to read and
how she developed such a passion with books. She was such a strong character.
There where so many bad things happening but Liesel kept strong and found a way
to escape from all the horror happening around her. The part when Liesel saw
how books where burned was just heartbreaking for me. I can’t imagine what that
would do to me. Books being burned is just an enormous crime in my eyes. But off
course there were much more terrible things happening in that time.
I also really liked the character
Rudy. I really love how fun and surprising he was.
Rudy. I really love how fun and surprising he was.
This review is getting very long, and I’m
sure I can keep talking about this book for a long time. I really loved the
story and I’m awed by how Markus Zusak was able to tell such a beautiful story
about such a horrible time. I think everybody should have read this book. It’s
definitely going on my favorite list.
sure I can keep talking about this book for a long time. I really loved the
story and I’m awed by how Markus Zusak was able to tell such a beautiful story
about such a horrible time. I think everybody should have read this book. It’s
definitely going on my favorite list.
About the Author:
Markus Zusak was born in
1975 and is the author of five books, including the international bestseller,
The Book Thief , which is
translated into more than forty languages. First released in 2005, The Book
Thief has spent a
total of 375 weeks on the New York
Times bestseller list, and still remains there eight years after it
first came out.
1975 and is the author of five books, including the international bestseller,
The Book Thief , which is
translated into more than forty languages. First released in 2005, The Book
Thief has spent a
total of 375 weeks on the New York
Times bestseller list, and still remains there eight years after it
first came out.
His first three books,The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe and
When Dogs Cry (also known as
Getting the Girl ), released
between 1999 and 2001, were all published internationally and garnered a number
of awards and honours in his native Australia, and the USA.
The Messenger (or I am the Messenger ),
published in 2002, won the 2003 Australian Children’s Book Council Book of the
Year Award (Older Readers) and the 2003 NSW Premier’s Literary Award (Ethel
Turner Prize), as well as receiving a Printz Honour in America. It also won
numerous national readers choice awards across Europe, including the highly
regarded Deutscher Jugendliteratur
prize in Germany.
published in 2002, won the 2003 Australian Children’s Book Council Book of the
Year Award (Older Readers) and the 2003 NSW Premier’s Literary Award (Ethel
Turner Prize), as well as receiving a Printz Honour in America. It also won
numerous national readers choice awards across Europe, including the highly
regarded Deutscher Jugendliteratur
prize in Germany.
It is The Book Thief , however, that has established
Markus Zusak as one of the most successful authors to come out of Australia. To
date, The Book Thief has
held the number one position at Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, the New York Times bestseller list, as
well as in countries across South America, Europe and Asia. It has also been in
the top five bestsellers in the UK and several other territories. It has
amassed many and varied awards, ranging from literary prizes to readers choice
awards to prizes voted on by booksellers. It was the only book to feature on
both the USA and UK World Book Night Lists in 2012, and has now been adapted
into a major motion picture.
Markus Zusak as one of the most successful authors to come out of Australia. To
date, The Book Thief has
held the number one position at Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, the New York Times bestseller list, as
well as in countries across South America, Europe and Asia. It has also been in
the top five bestsellers in the UK and several other territories. It has
amassed many and varied awards, ranging from literary prizes to readers choice
awards to prizes voted on by booksellers. It was the only book to feature on
both the USA and UK World Book Night Lists in 2012, and has now been adapted
into a major motion picture.
Markus Zusak grew up in
Sydney, Australia, and still lives there with his wife and two children.
Sydney, Australia, and still lives there with his wife and two children.
For more information
about ‘The Book Thief’ and Markus Zusak please visit his website, Goodreads or Amazon. Or look for Markus Zusak on Twitter and Facebook.
about ‘The Book Thief’ and Markus Zusak please visit his website, Goodreads or Amazon. Or look for Markus Zusak on Twitter and Facebook.
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Maureen is a mom, wife, nurse, and Ravenclaw living in the Netherlands. She spends her days juggling mom-life, reading, blogging, planning date nights with her husband and working as a nurse. Maureen also is a big Anglophile, loves cooking, Gilmore Girls, Bridgerton and Harry Potter.. Always! Facebook | Instagram
Brilliant review. I didn't know what to expect from the book when I read it either, but it totally blew me away. I loved the narration by Death, thought that was such a great idea. I really want to see the film and see if it does the book justice.
Thank you 😉
I really loved the narration by Death to. But it took me a little while to understand. The first few pages I really didn’t get who he was. LOL. I also very curious about the movie. Most times I find the movie a little disappointing.
Thanks for the follow! 😀