I have just finished reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I’ve wanted to read it for such a long time then two came along at once – I borrowed it from a friend and Adam got it for me for Christmas! Two copies – one for each eye!!

photo between-the-lines.co.uk

The story is set on Himmel Street, in the fictional town of Molching in Nazi Germany and features Death as the narrator and a young girl as the main protagonist. The young girl – Liesel Meminger lives with her foster parents Hans and Rosa Hubermann after suffering the traumatic loss of her mother and brother. The family take in and care for a Jew and WWII intensifies as the book progresses. The story focuses on Liesel learning to read, falling in love with reading, owning and receiving gifts of books which she treats as prized possessions and stealing books to add to her collection. Liesel befriends Rudy Steiner a local boy who becomes her best friend and is totally in love with her, she also becomes increasingly close to Max Vandenburg, the Jewish man the family hide to repay a debt Hans owes Max’s Father.

This book has been an incredible read, the tale is gripping and interesting, the characters are colourful and mostly likeable. A good insight into the time, however it does have a sad ending which brought a few tears to my eyes.

Well worth a read.