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| Author: Markus Zusak
Publisher: Black Swan
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy New: £3.86
You Save: £4.13 (52%)
New (31) Used (10) from £3.70
Avg. Customer Rating:  333 reviews
Sales Rank: 29
Media: Paperback
Pages: 560
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5 x 1.4
ISBN: 0552773891
EAN: 9780552773898
ASIN: 0552773891
Publication Date: January 1, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 Unexpectedly wonderful March 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Bought on a whim, not read any reviews, not drawn to the book - surprised to find such an intelligently constructed novel. Was expecting the conceit of death as narrator to be irritating - not a bit of it. A delight from first page to last.
A Great Story March 14, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I spotted this book a while back in my local supermarket when it first came out and was intrigued by its premise so bought it on a whim - and I am so glad that I did! This book is perhaps one of the best books I have read in a long long long time (and I read a lot of books) purely because it is the first time in ages I have read a book which is just a great story with liekable characters and which doesn't try to be clever or bizarre or have some random twist in the middle - it is what it is and I loved every second of it! BUY IT!
Another humdinger March 14, 2008
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
I really can't believe that in the first three months of the year I have come across three gems in "A Thousand Splendid Suns," "A Quiet Belief in Angels" and now "The Book Thief." Each of these books is different but they are all stunning in their own individual way.
The Book Thief is highly original, although it did remind me somewhat of my book of the year for 2007 "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas." The subject matter for both books is the Nazification of Germany. Both books look at things from the perspective of a child growing up in the most turbulent of times and both have a child-like simplicity that just adds to their powers.
The Book Thief is a beautiful book from start to finish. Indeed at times it is more of a scrapbook of a life than a novel. It has a strangeness that only enhances the subject matter. For a start it is narrated by death. But this never detracts from the shape or power of the novel as young lives are slowly ripped apart in a German Town where poverty is rife.
The central character Liesel has a beautiful calmness of spirit. She always seems to be on the verge of re-alisation whilst still retaining the fragility of childhood. Slowly and gradually the evil unfolds before her as she becomes aware of the fate of the Jews in a town where she is thrust as an unwilling refugee.
In her adopted father Hans Hubermann, Zusak has created one of those unforgettable men of strength and kindness. At first when Liesel is thrust into the Hubermann household I was expecting a hard-hearted couple keen to take the small amount of money that Lisel brings with her but not so keen to give her the love that she craves. Nothing could be more from the truth. Hans is open with his love and support whilst is wife is softer than she would ever want anybody to know.
There are passages where the book appears to be meandering and nothing much seems to be happening. There is a war on, but it isn't hugely affecting those involved in the story. But then you realise, almost by chance, that it is affecting every character, sometime directly and sometimes in a rather subtler way (if war can be subtle). Then comes a cataclysmic climax that is both sad and uplifting.
This is a very unusual book. It is a delight to read and never stodgy and once again I can only highly recommend it.
Love for the characters March 13, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have never fallen so much in love with the characters in a story as I have done with The Book Thief. Garunteed to have you in tears. Fantastic!
Amazing March 13, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
i loved this book, amazing and heartfelt. Before this i never read anything that Markus Zusak had written but after reading this book i will definatily carry on with him. This book made me cry, and the ending is just great. hope you all have fun reading this
xxx
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