The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak was the best-selling debut literary novel of the year 2007, selling over 400,000 copies. The author is a prize-winning writer of children's books, and this, his first novel for adults, proved to be a triumphant success. The book is extraordinary on many levels: moving, yet restrained, angry yet balanced -- and written with the kind of elegance found all too rarely in fiction these days. The book's narrator is nothing less than Death itself, regaling us with a remarkable tale of book burnings, treachery and theft. The book never forgets the primary purpose of compelling the reader's attention, yet which nevertheless is able to impart a cogent message about the importance of words, particularly in those societies which regard the word as dangerous (the book is set during the Nazi regime, but this message is all too relevant in many places in the world today).

Nine-year-old Liesel lives with her foster family on Himmel Street during the dark days of the Third Reich. Her Communist parents have been transported to a concentration camp, and during the funeral for her brother, she manages to steal a macabre book: it is, in fact, a gravediggers’ instruction manual. This is the first of many books which will pass through her hands as the carnage of the Second World War begins to hungrily claim lives. Both Liesel and her fellow inhabitants of Himmel Street will find themselves changed by both words on the printed page and the horrendous events happening around them.

Despite its grim narrator, The Book Thief is, in fact, a life-affirming book, celebrating the power of words and their ability to provide sustenance to the soul. Interestingly, the Second World War setting of the novel does not limit its relevance: in the 20th century, totalitarian censorship throughout the world is as keen as ever at suppressing books (notably in countries where the suppression of human beings is also par for the course) and that other assault on words represented by the increasing dumbing-down of Western society as cheap celebrity replaces the appeal of books for many people, ensures that the message of Marcus Zusak’s book could not be more timely. It is, in fact, required reading -- or should be in any civilised country. --Barry Forshaw

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Outstanding!! - Rated
This is one of the most riveting, captivating, emotional and strangely alluring books I've ever read. Pick it up and read it!!!!!!!!!

The Book Thief - Rated
One of the best books I have ever read. For the first time it made me look at WW2 from a different perspective - well several, and it humanised the 'ordinary' Germans for me.Once I got into the unusual writing style used at the beginning I found the language and writing brilliant. It has inspired me to get on and write! Highly recommend it.

Simply stunning - Rated
This is an unforgettable story that will remain with you for a long time. I loved the simplicity and humanity of this book. Liesel, her family and Max and some of the most beautiful and believable characters you'll come across; caught in a desperate situation to survive against all odds.

You wouldn't expect that WWII could be taken from such a unique angle and turned into a masterpiece of dignity that reflects the best that humans have to offer. This is probably one of my favourite books of all time.

You'd be daft not to - Rated

I ordered this book because it looked interesting. I wasn't hooked from the first line which, on reflection, I think is probably a good thing. This story weaves around its' central characters building up momentum but not in a traditional and tired way. It moves with its' characters and allows them space to develop without the reader seeing the writer's hand all over his characters.
The language of the book is beautiful and rich with tones. The characters are believable. The book is about as good as a piece of work can be. I was completely won over by it and as I finished it, I thought, 'I would have gladly paid double for that'.

I'm transfixed by the power and the beauty of this book - Rated
I shouldn't really be writing a review yet, because I'm only 30 pages into The Book Thief, but ...

A friend recommended this as a book which had (i) kept her sane in a time of great trouble, and (ii) is one of the very few books that makes you want to savour every phrase and sentence as a carefull crafted jewel. That's what's happening to me at the moment. I haven't had such a visceral reaction to a work of fiction for years and years and years ... I want it all, but at the same time I don't want to miss a single word. It's amazing. It's got the same intellectual and emotional shock as the third movement of the Berg violin concerto, should you happen to know it. I can see that it's going to be one of those books of which one buys 20 copies on the grounds that anyone worth knowing will deserve a copy.

I'm going back to it right now. What a world!