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The Book Thief

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The Book Thief

By: Markus Zusak
Narrated by: Dennis Olsen
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About this listen

The award-winning novel that established Markus Zusak as an international brand.

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

©2005 Markus Zusak (P)2006 Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Producer Heather Steen. Death & Dying Difficult Situations Family & Relationships Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Fiction Heartfelt Tear-jerking Fostering
All stars
Most relevant  
beautifully written & narrated
so much love for Leisel mennengar & her beloved papa and max and mumma. love love love....and death soft as a cloud carrying the children in his arms.

poetry in motion

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Engrossing story - excellent performance by the narrator. Death as a personality telling the story works very well.

A must listen

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Loved this story written from a unique perspective. Found it a little difficult to get into. Persist with it, once you fall into its rhythm you won't be disappointed.

Beautiful story

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This is such a beautiful story told in a perfect way by a genius author.

never gets old. just gets better

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though I actually need to read the book for school, this was such a great story to listen to regardless. the narrator is just the perfect blend of intrigued yet interested but distant and the voices for the character were just cute!

chilling, yes, amazing, yes, school, yes, story,

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Very strong story brought me to tears many times throughout. Overall an moving piece of writing

Many tears

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Loved the narration of such a lovely story. I can understand why is so well liked

Lovely book

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Excellent writing and performance! The story is very moving and quite an insight into nazi Germany - though from a different perspective. The only blemish is the accordion which is played between chapter's, though it grew on me somewhat, I'd prefer it wasn't there so the story could continue unabated.

Five stars

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Absolutely love this book, it is very well written and unlike anything I have ever read. The only thing I didn’t like in this was the music between chapters, got old kinda fast ! Other then that AMAZING

Great story

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I doubt I would have kept going with this book after the first chapter, except my daughter recommended it. I ended up enjoying the story as well as the historical side of it. A side to the war portraying the lives of the supposed attackers. Very sad but unfortunately real.

Unusual Historical Story Telling

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