The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Narrated by Death, The Book Thief tells the story of Liesel Meminger and her profound love for books.
Set in 1939 Nazi Germany, the novel begins with tragedy, Death has already claimed the life of Liesel’s younger brother. At his graveside, Liesel discovers a book in the snow: The Gravedigger’s Handbook, a technical manual on grave digging, presumably dropped by the gravedigger. This becomes the first of many thefts.
As Liesel learns to read, she begins to steal books, those banned by the Nazi regime for being ‘non-Aryan’. She also takes books from the mayor’s wife’s private library. How long can she continue before being caught?
Amidst war and loss, love emerges as a central theme, a catalyst for change and sacrifice throughout the story. Liesel overcomes her trauma by learning to love and be loved by her foster family and friends. Her world shifts dramatically when her foster family hides a Jewish fist-fighter in their basement. What will happen next?
The Book Thief became an international bestseller, selling over sixty thousand copies. It is an original and deeply moving story, one that might change your life and remind you that the struggle for truth continues. Evil still lurks in the world, especially with the resurgence of far-right ideologies. Like Liesel, we must stand firm in our own corner.
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Christopher (Reading Circle Patron)
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