Product Description

1939 - Nazi Germany - The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier. Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall. Some important information - this novel is narrated by death. It's a small story, about: a girl; an accordionist; some fanatical Germans; a Jewish fist fighter; and quite a lot of thievery. Another thing you should know - death will visit the book thief three times.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30 in Books
• Published on: 2008-01-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 560 pages

The Guardian
Unsettling, thought-provoking, life-affirming, triumphant and
tragic, this is a novel of breath-taking scope, masterfully told...A
wonderful page-turner.

Lisa Hilton, Sunday Telegraph
Extraordinary, resonant and relevant, beautiful and angry.

Marianne Brace, Independent on Sunday
A moving work which will make many eyes brim.

Customer Reviews

Complete Disappointment
Due to the acclaims given to this novel, I expected something truly unique; especially due to the interesting narrative - death. However, I couldn't be more disappointed if I tried.

I have read my fair share of books and I am also currently studying Nazi Germany, so I have some insight into Germany around the time in the novel. Before I delved into this book, I thought it sounded incredibly interesting; the narrative was different, the setting and date was at a time of interest and the mystery seemed to be lurking from the synopsis on the back. However, instead of feeling like I was connecting with the characters and enjoying the story line, I felt like I was being taught a History lesson into Nazi Germany all over again.

Now don't get me wrong, Zusak's style of writing was innovative and imaginative but I believe there was a lack of flow to the book. Especially with the, oh so many, parts.

The protagonist of the novel, Liesel; is a somewhat boring character compared to the likes of Max and her foster parents. I suspect many people will disagree when I say that the only relationship I found to be of any emotional meaning was between herself and Max, especially when they reunite towards the end. Oh, don't get me started about the end! What an anti-climax that was.

I never say time is wasted, because that is an impossibility, however I would have much preferred to have spent my time reading something more worthwhile. This book was a huge let down to the enormous amount of hype it received and I wouldn't recommend anyone to be put through the struggle of reading it.

Pick something else :)

The best book I've read in years!
This book was reommended to me by a friend and I wasn't disappointed - it was a real treat. Different from most books - informative as it tells you about the 2nd World War from the view of a german family living through it. I cried reading the first chapter and was gripped from then on. A must read for anyone who loves a good story.

A truly beautiful book
I can't recommend this book highly enough.
It's true that its very setting fills it with sadness but its originality, delicacy, poetry and certainly humour make it a very special book indeed.
I's one of those books that risks making you unpopular as you try desperately to convince everyone you know to read it.