The Book Thief

Several people had recommended this book to me, but when I saw it in a bookstore in Limoges this summer, I almost didn't pick it up. I was kind of turned off by the book's cover.

(Of course, I can't find the version of the cover that my copy has...I guess I'm not the only one who found it creepy!)

Fortunately, the English-language book selection in the French bookstore wasn't very big, so I looked a little further than the cover.

Here's what the book's jacket had to say:

Here is a small fact:

YOU ARE GOING TO DIE

1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier.

Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitatnts of her street when the bombs begin to fall.

Some important information:

THIS NOVEL IS NARRATED BY DEATH

it's a small story about:

• a girl
• an accordionist
• some fanatical Germans
• a Jewish fist fighter
• and quite a lot of thievery.

Another thing you should know:

DEATH WILL VISIT THE BOOK THIEF THREE TIMES.

Intrigued? Yeah, me too.

Why I loved this book:

The narration: As the jacket says, Death narrates this book and I loved his (?) voice. I found him to be witty and compassionate.

The characters: I absolutely loved the characters Marcus Zusak created on Himmel Street.

Recommendation: Read it! And then give me a call so we can chat about it. :)