*The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 033036426x Global Overview for this book
Registered by star-light of Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on 10/15/2005
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1 journaler for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by star-light from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Saturday, October 15, 2005
From back of the book:

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

Liesel Meminger and her younger brother are being taken by their mother to live with a foster family outside Munich. Liesel's father was taken away on the breath of a single, unfamiliar word - Kommunist - and Liesel sees the fear of a similar fate in her mother's eyes. On the journey, Death visits the young boy, and notices Liesel. It will be the first of many near encounters. 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.


I read the first chapter on-line at the publisher's website and absolutely HAD to buy this book. I knew it would gnaw at me until I did.

Journal Entry 2 by star-light from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Sunday, July 16, 2006
I really enjoyed this book! The characters were so well-created, from rough-around the edges Mama with a heart of gold, kindly Papa who taught Liesel how to read, Liesel's partner in crime Rudy, and the mayor's wife who allowed Liesel to first read and later steal her books.

This book had me laughing at times, but towards the end things got a bit sad and I had tears streaming down my face.

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