The Book Thief - Mark Zuzack

I've learnt some wonderful German words - none of which I'll repeat here! I had tried a couple of times to read The Book Thief by Mark Zuzack, but just hadn't got on with it.

Loving books about books I was drawn to this one, but the subject seemed a little depressing.

The story follows the life of Liesel during the difficult years of the Third Reich in a small suburb of Munich. Narrated by Death himself, the story told is that of Liesel's book thieving, starting at the funeral of her brother (The gravedigger's handbook) despite the fact that at the time she is unable to read.

Living in Himmel Street with her strict, but kind, foster mother and her loving foster father; she experiences the trauma of everyday life for the average German family (not Nazis) in Germany during the war.

Her friendship with the boy down the road, her reoccuring nightmares, her fathers attempts to keep food on the table (not just the terrible pea soup her Mama makes), the Jew who lives in their basement for a time and the library in the mayors house on the hill; Death watches all this and tells her story.

I listened to this as an audio book and not to put to finer point on it - it was spellbinding!

Listening meant that I could hear the use of the German language, the sharp tone of Mama when she was angry, and the softness of Papa when he spoke to Liesel after one of her nightmares.

Despite the grim narrator, this is not a morbid book; it's actually uplifting and life affirming. I won't go so far as to suggest that everyone should read it, but it wouldn't be a bad thing if they did.
5th - 15th March