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Markus Zusak

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The Book Thief Paperback – 1 November 2013

by Markus Zusak (Author)

68,810 ratings

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The extraordinary international bestseller from the author of new novel Bridge of Clay.

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

inch Brilliant and hugely ambitious the kind of book that can be life changing inch The New York Times

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.

ACCLAIM FOR THE BOOK THIEF

inch The Book Thief deserves a place on the same shelf with The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank and Elie Wiesel's Night. It seems poised to become a classic. inch USA Today

inch Elegant, philosophical and moving Beautiful and important. inch Kirkus Reviews

inch Extraordinary, resonant and relevant, beautiful and angry. inch Sunday Telegraph

inch 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. inch The Guardian

inch A moving work which will make many eyes brim. inch Independent on Sunday

AWARDS FOR THE BOOK THIEF

Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book (South East Asia & South Pacific) 2006
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year 2006
Daniel Elliott Peace Award 2006
Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the Year 2006
National Jewish Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature 2006
Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book 2006
Michael L. Printz Honor Book 2007
Book Sense Book of the Year Award for Children's Literature 2007
Winner of the ALA Youth Medal Awards' Margaret A. Edwards Award 2014.

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

Book Description

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

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Picador Australia (1 November 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 600 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1743515863
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1743515860
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.9 x 3.7 x 19.8 cm

Customer Reviews:
68,810 ratings

About the author

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Markus Zusak

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Markus Zusak is the international bestselling author of six novels, including The Book Thief and most recently, Bridge of Clay. His work is translated into more than forty languages, and has spent more than a decade on the New York Times bestseller list, establishing Zusak as one of the most successful authors to come out of Australia.

All of Zusak’s books – including earlier titles, The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, When Dogs Cry (also titled Getting the Girl), The Messenger (or I am the Messenger) – have been awarded numerous honours around the world, ranging from literary prizes to readers choice awards to prizes voted on by booksellers.

In 2013, The Book Thief was made into a major motion picture, and in 2018 was voted one of America’s all-time favourite books, achieving 14th position on the PBS Great American Read. Also in 2018, Bridge of Clay was selected as a best book of the year in publications ranging from Entertainment Weekly to the Wall Street Journal.

Markus Zusak grew up in Sydney, Australia, and still lives there with his wife and two children.

Customer reviews

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Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and moving. They praise the writing style as brilliant, forthright, and beautiful with words. The presentation style is described as unique and surprising. Readers appreciate the well-developed characters and their realistic portrayal. They find the narrative interesting and treasured. The book provides an insight into human relationships from a child's perspective.

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Story quality Writing style Style Character development Intrigue Age range Insight Humor

70 customers mention ‘Story quality’63 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the story's quality. They find it well-told, with convincing characterisations and an enjoyable storyline. The themes are intriguing and thought-provoking, and the graphic depiction of life in Nazi Germany is appreciated. The author has an incredible turn of phrase and weaves the story effectively.

"...A clever use of the gatherer of souls adding knowledge and pathos over the whole story. Thank you writer of stories." Read more

"...the insight into Nazi Germany pretty interesting, the themes it presented intriguing and thought-provoking, and though this might not ring true for..." Read more

"Good story and sad but overrated" Read more

"I liked the small chunks of story bound together with narrator's insights into the character's lives...." Read more

49 customers mention ‘Writing style’39 positive10 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style. They find it brilliant, straightforward, and beautiful with words. The language is poetic and chiseled, making it easy to read and enjoyable. Readers also appreciate the phraseology and narration.

"I loved everything about this book, from the writing style to the character development, and it actually made me cry, something that few books have..." Read more

"...It is a story, with an unusual narrator, of a family in Nazi Germany who take in an orphaned young girl...." Read more

"...I liked the forthright language and the consistent setting, over a lifetime...." Read more

"This book was most unique both in its writing style and it’s setting...." Read more

12 customers mention ‘Style’12 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's style. They find the writing beautiful and unique, with surprising word pictures. The presentation is different, while the storyline is simple.

"...Not just because of the content, but the beautiful way that Markus has with words...." Read more

"What a beautiful, beautiful book you have gifted to us...." Read more

"...I loved every page and didn't want it to finish. Unique viewpoint, unique style, wonderful characters. More than worthy of five stars." Read more

"Brilliantly written, amazing ! Surprising word pictures. Such a moving, profound and devastatingly sad story. Unlike anything I've ever read before." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Character development’10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed characters. They find the characters realistic and distinct, with a mix of normal, flawed human traits. The characters are portrayed remarkably by the young Australian man.

"...Also, the characters were very well developed and you were given an insight into their former exploits and quirks when they were introduced so that..." Read more

"...I identified with the protagonist, enjoying her triumphs and living through her trials. This is a riveting story, told well." Read more

"...The good, the bad, the cruel, the helpful, the mix of traits in normal flawed human beings makes this book linger in my mind...." Read more

"...of the German people and the fear they also lived with are remarkably portrayed by this young Australian man and we are all the richer for having..." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Intrigue’6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's intrigue. They find it well-written with depth and historical accuracy. The narrative seems endless and unquenchable, and the best place for an endless narrative is Nazi Germany.

"...It is a book that I will savour, treasure and linger with time and again. I urge you to read this book as well. Exceptional...." Read more

"...It seems the best place for an endless, unquenchable narrative is NAZI Germany. Hitler burned the books and an orphan child Liesel stole them...." Read more

"...Interestingly written, with such depth and historical accuracy. My favourite!" Read more

"The Book Thief was an excellent read! The writing was different and enticing! I haven't seen the Movie but will when the opportunity arises...." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Age range’5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book suitable for all ages. They appreciate the story of familial love and survival, as well as the intimacy into human relationships and realism in wartime situations.

"...It reveals an intimacy into human relations and realism in its wartime situations." Read more

"...This wonderful book gives an insight into a family trying to be inconspicuous as they live the best life they can during war...." Read more

"...horrors are in the background all the time but it's a story of familial love and survival. Wonderful." Read more

"I loved the way the story was told,her love of books-Her friendship with Rudy-Her relationship with her step mum and day,and Max...." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Insight’4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's unique viewpoint and style. They find it insightful and enjoyable to read. The story is described as realistic and distinct.

"...I loved every page and didn't want it to finish. Unique viewpoint, unique style, wonderful characters. More than worthy of five stars." Read more

"...character development as the players in the story are very real and distinct...." Read more

"Insightful and beautiful with words, a joy to read again! Interestingly written, with such depth and historical accuracy. My favourite!" Read more

"...interesting point of view being written from a child's view :)" Read more

15 customers mention ‘Humor’10 positive5 negative

Customers have different opinions about the humor in the book. Some find it sad and funny, making them laugh out loud. Others describe it as tragic and heart-wrenching, with an anguishing journey of courage and love through difficult times. The ending is described as strange.

"...Don't let that deter you, though, as it also made me laugh out loud many times. Firstly, I loved the way this book was written...." Read more

"Good story and sad but overrated" Read more

"...It is well written and easy to follow. There are very sad moments but also some amusing ones." Read more

"...attention but once it did I fell in love with Liesel and her beautifully tragic life. If I only the story telling didn’t get in the way!..." Read more

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Top reviews from Australia

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Amazon Customer
Clever use of words.
Reviewed in Australia on 16 March 2025
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The author challenged me with his use of words in describing the characters.
The way innocence accepted the lonely Jewish man, and the woman in the big house, knowing how to let the child into her home to learn words.
A clever use of the gatherer of souls adding knowledge and pathos over the whole story. Thank you writer of stories.

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KM
amazing book!
Reviewed in Australia on 19 January 2014
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I loved everything about this book, from the writing style to the character development, and it actually made me cry, something that few books have managed to achieve. Don't let that deter you, though, as it also made me laugh out loud many times.
Firstly, I loved the way this book was written. The way the story was narrated by Death was clever and worked well, and the story flowed, so it really did seem to fly by, seeming much shorter than it's 500+ pages. Or, rather, it was just a much easier read than some other longer books, as The Book Thief never, ever got boring.
Also, the characters were very well developed and you were given an insight into their former exploits and quirks when they were introduced so that I really felt like I knew each and every one.
And lastly, for a fourteen year old girl I found the insight into Nazi Germany pretty interesting, the themes it presented intriguing and thought-provoking, and though this might not ring true for someone who has been in this world a bit longer, for me it was another element that contributed to what made this book such a good read.
I recommend The Book Thief most highly!!

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2 people found this helpful

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Michael John Duggan
There's always hope
Reviewed in Australia on 9 August 2024
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A tear jerker with intent

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Carrie B
Amazing, poignant and so beautifully written
Reviewed in Australia on 1 April 2014
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This is one of the most remarkable books I have read. Not just because of the content, but the beautiful way that Markus has with words.Two small examples: " The soft spoken words fell off the side of the bed, emptying onto the floor like powder" and "Her expression stroked the man on his face. It followed one of the lines down his cheek"
It is a story, with an unusual narrator, of a family in Nazi Germany who take in an orphaned young girl. Because of a promise the "papa" made to the son of a Jewish friend who gave his life for him in the WW1, he also hid the now grown son in his basement. And how the girl becomes fascinated with words as her papa teaches her to read. And how therefore she couldn't live without books ...
The content, as you would imagine in a book of his genre, was devastating, even so I couldn't put it down. Time stopped as I read it and as I went through almost a box of tissues toward the end, i still don't know if i was relieved or so very disappointed when it came to an end.
I can't recommend the book highly enough and am now a devoted fan of Makus Zusak.

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3 people found this helpful

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Fettpool
Great buy
Reviewed in Australia on 1 February 2025
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Perfect quality paperback at a fantastic price

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Holly
Good read but Overrated
Reviewed in Australia on 9 January 2024
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Good story and sad but overrated

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Kathi Stait
This is the most interesting and enthralling book I have read lately
Reviewed in Australia on 24 March 2023
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I liked the small chunks of story bound together with narrator's insights into the character's lives. I liked the forthright language and the consistent setting, over a lifetime. I identified with the protagonist, enjoying her triumphs and living through her trials.
This is a riveting story, told well.

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One person found this helpful

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Ray Thorpe
A most unusual read
Reviewed in Australia on 26 March 2019
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This book was most unique both in its writing style and it’s setting. It reveals an intimacy into human relations and realism in its wartime situations.

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MC
Questo è uno dei miei libri preferiti in assoluto
Reviewed in Italy on 10 September 2013
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Avevo sentite più che ottime recensioni su questo libro, e...le vale tutte. A partire da ogni personaggio, da ogni vicenda, da tutto. Liesel Meminger ha 9 anni quando viene portata in una nuova casa con nuovi genitori. Piano piano, vediamo come i rapporti si instaurano e si stringono. Tutto ciò è narrato dalla Morte, la quale esprime ogni tanto i suoi pensieri. Liesel è uno dei personaggi più puri che io abbia mai letto; certo, ruba i libri, ma lo fa con un innocenza spaventosa. La seguiamo per gli anni della sua vita, vediamo come matura, la sua mentalità e non ne rimaniamo MAI delusi. Lo stesso per Hans Hubermann. Un altro capolavoro. Lui e la moglie, sono dei genitori straordinari, nel loro modo. Come Rudy Steiner (il vicino che diventa amico di Liesel) e Max.
La scrittura è molto buona, Zusak riesce a controllare ogni cosa che accada in modo che abbia un filo continuo.
Questo libro ha comunque una linea triste, essendo ambientato nella seconda guerra mondiale, ma non mi sono mai sentita tanto triste da non continuare (a volte quando un libro è troppo deprimente non riesco continuarlo. Qui non è successo) , se non nelle ultime pagine in cui non ho potuto fare a meno di piangere un po'. Per la prima volta ho capito come fosse la vera guerra nelle città tedesche, e ho amato vedere le reazioni dei personaggi agli avvenimenti durante i bombardamenti. Sono grata di aver comprato questo libro, poiché ora è uno dei miei preferiti in assoluto, se non il primo. E sono sicura che prenderò in mano gli altri libri di Markus Zusak.
Se potessi, gli darei 6 stelle, perché vale la pena di ogni secondo che ci ho passato sopra.

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James Chung
A book about words, expertly narrated by Death
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 March 2014
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It is clear that Zusak wanted to write a novel exploring the use - and power - of words. So having the novel set in Nazi Germany, a setting where almost all human emotions can be conjured realistically, allows a lot of scope for exploring the greatest impact that words can have on people. Also, considering it is narrated by 'Death', you can expect the thematic emphasis to be on 'negative' emotions - sadness, guilt, anxiety, mistrust, betrayal, paranoia, fear etc. Pretty much the embodiment of Nazi Germany.

I must agree with other reviewers, however, that there is no logical structure to this novel. It doesn't just explore one theme, but many. It's very difficult to get a grasp of what this book is about from the blurb. Whatever is lacking in its plot, however, is more than made up for in its prose. The narration offers many, many interesting and often ironic perspectives. The descriptive language is very unconventional but this is because objects are given a sort of personality and consciousness. It reminds me somewhat of 'The Outsider/Stranger' by Camus, with its fable-like and dreamlike atmosphere.

As a result, characters appear very linear. Everyone has a set personality, and any conflicts of personality or character are exploited by Zusak or 'Death' as if to mock the irrationality of the human heart and feebleness of the soul; yet another underlying theme of the novel. What can be grasped, however, is the narrator's clear obsession with the 'book thief' a.k.a Liesel, the protagonist - a small, typically shy girl who grows in confidence along the years. Respectful to her mother, loves her father, sceptical to other boys around her (there do not appear to be any other young girls in the novel), and passionate about reading. The narrator, 'Death', is certainly intrigued by Liesel's will to live, you could say, and feels powerless in her presence. Thus, Liesel is a very unique character whose honesty and devotion to the human heart is life-affirming. Understandably, I really enjoyed reading about her in the novel.

In order to help some people who really require some concrete themes, I will identify one for you: words. Zusak explores them brilliantly. In particularly emotive conversations, words are not simply 'said', but 'passed on', 'carried', 'climbed on one's shoulder' - they are personified and given a mind of their own, as if they hold all the power to summon a particular reaction. Secondly, there is the repeated occurrence of books - specifically, those encountered by Liesel and more often than not, stolen for the purpose of ravenous reading. Again, the Nazi setting is well founded - their book burning displays disgust Liesel, books are in scarce numbers, certain books are banned, others forced on people. All of this adds value to 'words'. Even newspapers in dustbins are given a new lease of life by Liesel, who carries them to Max (the overly-humble Jew hidden in her house as a favour to one of her dad's friends) to read.

Another and very obvious theme is death. Needless to say, it happens quite a lot in the novel, moreso in the latter stages. It is dealt with as a matter of formality. We are all ticking clocks, as Death would put it, destined to die. Yet it how we respond when faced with the prospect of death that defines our worth. Liesel is a symbol of defiance, and Death finds that both unnerving and fascinating - and much deserving of his respect. Thus, Liesel makes a strong case for our continued existence - humans die, but humanity does not.

Zusak traverses the thorny and sensitive issue of appearing indifferent to the Holocaust through a great irony that is more difficult to miss than acknowledge - how can a despicable, nasty, untrustworthy Jew also show signs of being human - showing a propensity and even a proficiency towards art, books, emotional awareness etc. Wow, even Death isn't as bad as Hitler.

In conclusion, I hope to have shed some light on aspects that this book explores. Even after reading it, I wondered how on earth I could possible summarise it. The answer is - I cannot. Many reviewers state that it is 'beautifully written' and I cannot agree more. This is where the novel really excels and where its uniqueness stems from - its prose. Its language. It is hugely ambitious in this sense, but delivers in a wealth of insightful description that is rare to find in few instanced of other books, let alone in every chapter of this one.

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M
Berührende und aufrichtige Geschichte!
Reviewed in Germany on 20 July 2014
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MEINUNG

- zu häufige Verwendung der Wörter „Saumensch” und „Saukerl”

Hierbei muss ich dazu sagen, dass ich das Buch auf Englisch gelesen habe, insofern ist dieser Kritikpunkt für die deutsche Fassung wohl nicht unbedingt relevant.
Die zwei oben genannten Wörter werden so häufig verwendet – insgesamt 105 Mal, und es kann sein, dass mir beim Zählen ein oder zwei durch die Lappen gegangen sind –, dass es mir vorkam, als seien es die einzigen deutschen Schimpfwörter, die Markus Zusak kennt. Um fair zu bleiben, gilt es zu erwähnen, dass diese Wörter gut die eher derbe Verhaltensweise von Liesels Adoptivmutter widerspiegeln und ich Rosa Hubermann im Laufe der Geschichte auch gerade deshalb ins Herz geschlossen habe. Zudem intensiviert es die Atmosphäre der 30er und 40er Jahre, dennoch gingen mir die „Sauwörter” gerade in den ersten 100 Seiten sehr auf den Keks. Davon abgesehen, fand ich die eingestreuten deutschen Begriffe sehr gelungen und auch grammatikalisch korrekt. Die Tatsache, dass diese Lappalie mein einziger Kritikpunkt am ganzen Buch ist, zeigt, wie sehr mir Die Bücherdiebin gefallen hat.

+ Erzählstil und Aufbau des Buches

Ich fand es richtig klasse, dass die Geschichte vom Tod höchstselbst erzählt wird. Es ist sehr passend, schließlich war die Nazizeit ja maßgeblich von Tod und Verzweiflung bestimmt. Der Tod ist zynisch und gibt bissige Kommentare ab, was ihn beunruhigend sympathisch und amüsant erscheinen lässt.

Markus Zusaks Schreibstil ist fantastisch. Zum Beispiel wird die Atmosphäre lebhaft mit Farben beschrieben, was ich interessant fand. Von der ersten Seite an war ich völlig in der Geschichte versunken.
Die Story ist unterteilt in zehn Abschnitte, die alle nach dem jeweiligen Buch benannt sind, das Liesel gerade durch ihre Erlebnisse begleitet und am meisten beeinflusst. Markus Zusak macht außerdem Gebrauch von einem faszinierendem literarischen Mittel, denn der Erzähler macht Andeutungen zu Geschehnissen, die erst viel später stattfinden werden. So erfährt der Leser bereits in der Mitte des Buches, welche Charaktere am Ende sterben werden. Das Faszinierende daran ist, dass es der Spannung keinen Abbruch tut, sondern mich nur noch mehr dazu gebracht hat, weiterlesen zu wollen. Es ging nicht darum, was passiert, sondern welche Ereignisse zu dem erwähnten hinführen.

+ Ton und historischer Hintergrund

Die Glaubwürdigkeit des Buches geht einher mit dem erstklassigen Schreibstil. Das Buch ist sehr überzeugend und ich finde, es ist dem Autor gelungen, die Stimmung und die Mentalität der Menschen während der Nazizeit einzufangen. Beim Lesen kam es mir vor, als würde ich alles selbst neben Liesel erleben. Die Geschichte lies mich viel darüber nachdenken, wie es wohl gewesen sein musste, während dieser Zeit gelebt zu haben – ganz gleich ob nun als Deutsch, Jude oder irgendjemand anders. Es ist sicherlich kein erfreuliches Thema, dennoch ist es sinnvoll, sich von Zeit zu Zeit damit zu beschäftigen

+ Charaktere

Hans Hubermann, ein Maler und Akkordionspieler, und seine Frau Rosa nehmen die junge Liesel Meminger bei sich auf, obwohl sie selbst kaum genug zum Leben haben. Sie sind liebevoll Zieheltern, und sie sind auf ihre Weise sehr menschlich und gütig. Es war toll zu sehen, wie sich ihre Beziehung zu Liesel im Verlauf der Geschichte entwickelt hat. Darüber hinaus ist es sehr bewegend, darüber zu lesen, wie diese widerständige Familie und andere Bewohner der kleinen Stadt Molching mit den Lebensumständen der damaligen Zeit umgehen. All die kleinen Zeichen von Widerstand, Solidarität und Güte, während andere Menschen all ihre Menschlichkeit verloren zu haben scheinen, sind herzerwärmend.

Nicht nur die Hubermanns brillieren in diesem Buch, sondern auch die Frau des Bürgermeisters, Rudy und selbstverständlich Max Vandenburg, der jüdische Faustkämpfer (der übrigens in viel mehr Szenen hätte vorkommen sollen!). Jeder dieser Charaktere steht in unterschiedlicher Weise in Beziehung zu Liesel, und ich fand sie allesamt sympathisch!

+ Emotionen

Die Bücherdiebin ist emotionsgeladen, und das nicht nur, weil es zur Nazizeit spielt. Beim Lesen fühlte ich mich hilflos und war wütend wegen der Grausamkeit der Menschen. Ich war traurig wegen der sinnlosen Tode unschuldiger Menschen und weil das Ende herzzerreißend war, auch wenn man als Leser bereits wusste, was passiert. Ich war erfreut und berührt, weil das Buch zeigt, dass man auch dann seinem Leben einen Sinn geben kann, wenn um einen herum schreckliche Dinge geschehen. Die Bücherdiebin stimmte mich optimistisch und hoffnungsvoll, dass, ganz gleich zu welchen grausamen Taten Menschen imstande sind, es immer auch solche gegen wird, die zu Liebe, Güte, Freundschaft und Ehrlichkeit fähig sind.

FAZIT
Ich bin mir sicher, dass mich diese Geschichte und ihre Charaktere noch auf lange Zeit begleiten werden. Falls Die Bücherdiebin schon lange auf eurer Leseliste war und ihr bisher jedoch aus irgendeinem Grund gezögert habt, es zur Hand zu nehmen, lest es. Oder wenn euch das Buch bisher nicht gereizt hat, ihr aber interessiert seid an einer Geschichte über die Macht von Worten und Büchern, dann lest es. Die Bücherdiebin richtet sich meiner Meinung nach nicht nur an Jugendliche, sondern kann von (nicht ganz so jungen) Kindern, Jugendlichen und Erwachsenen gleichermaßen gelesen und gemocht werden.

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Wendi J. Davis
Brilliant
Reviewed in Spain on 28 June 2013
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Un libro que debería de ser de lectura mandatoria en los colegios.

Wonderful, haunting and thought/moral-provoking book that goes right up into my all-time favourites. Amazon.es kind of sucks for English books as it definitely takes longer for them to arrive than if I buy through the dot uk Amazon and, if I remember rightly, postage is the same.

DEFINITELY SHOULD BE READ!!!

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Ray Flores
Spoiler alert: you’re all going to die.
Reviewed in Mexico on 20 December 2019
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This is the second time I read this book, and I still cannot get over it. Zusak’s style is unique and from the very first chapter, you’re drowned to the story, until you find yourself at the end of the book, with a big hole in your chest, proof of your heartache and the bittersweet taste of your tears.

As an historical fiction book set in the WWII, you know there are going to be some hardships through the pages. But, the beauty of this book in particular, is the fact that is narrated by the Death itself. This character is only doing its job, taking the lives of countless people during the war, but it confesses that there have been quite a few ones that it still remembers. The Book Thief is among them.

Liesel Meminger is a girl that when we first know her, she’s living a nightmare. She sees her younger brother die, and it’s separated from her mother, and placed into a foster family, that would become her entire world. Hans and Rosa are her parents, and even though Frau Hubermann is not the kind of woman that is all hugs and pretty words, she does take care of Liesel the best way she can.

Hans becomes her papa and the most important figure she will have. He is my favorite character not only because he is a kind man, but because he always stands tall even when he knows he can’t do much for others. He knew the Nazi Germany was just wrong. His silver eyes, his empathic personality, his beautiful soul, his accordion and his way of smiling has stayed with me, after so many years. This is surprising, really.

Max and Rudy were also my favorite characters. Max was kind of a big brother to Liesel, and they both found the strength to keep going, even when all hope was lost. Rudy was the kind of boy you can’t help but love. He was witty, playful and charming –a character that I still remember with a smile.

On the other hand, and to be quite honest, I have never understood war. I’ll never support the idea of bigotry, racism, and pure hatred as main reasons to kill somebody else, someone innocent who was just at the wrong place, and the wrong time. Over 6 million Jews were killed out of hate. Six million. To think that a war was the perfect excuse to murder people is just beyond my words.

Truthfully, this book always makes me cry, but it’s the kind of hurt you can’t help but love. It always amazes me that humans are capable of both love and hatred at the same time. We can find our true family among strangers; but we also have to deal with unreasonable people that are eager to get into conflict. We have both light and dark inside us, and that’s just a fact.

I want to add that kind people are often seen as naïve and even stupid, but we often forget that they’re the ones that make us believe that everything is going to get better. They give us hope like some superhero would do.

Last but not least, I think this book is meant to be read by teenagers, but as an adult, you can also enjoy it. Like I said, Zusak has a unique style that makes you care about these characters and their stories.

I totally recommend you to read this. I promise you, you’ll enjoy it!

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The Book Thief Paperback – 1 November 2013

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Markus Zusak

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5.0 out of 5 stars Questo è uno dei miei libri preferiti in assoluto

5.0 out of 5 stars A book about words, expertly narrated by Death

5.0 out of 5 stars Berührende und aufrichtige Geschichte!

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant

5.0 out of 5 stars Spoiler alert: you’re all going to die.

Questo è uno dei miei libri preferiti in assoluto

A book about words, expertly narrated by Death

Berührende und aufrichtige Geschichte!

Brilliant

Spoiler alert: you’re all going to die.