The Book Thief

By: Markus Zusak

Narrated by: Dennis Olsen

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.

moving and poignant story

What did you like best about this story?

It was engrossing and about real people who had weaknesses and complexities.

Any additional comments?

The problem with the reading of this book is that the narrator speaks his 'asides' sotto voce. My elderly father, who is hard of hearing, could often not hear these particular sections.

Took a while!

What did you like best about The Book Thief? What did you like least?

I loved the richness of the story and the depth of the heroine. It took me several chapters to decide if i was enjoying the story or not. It took some time for me to get used to the story being narrated by death, although in the end this was one of the things I liked most. I found the accordion music between chapters very irritating.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked how it was narrated by death and how we saw his point of view.

What about Dennis Olsen’s performance did you like?

His voice was perfect for the voice of death.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes I would.

Great story, great narration

Would you consider the audio edition of The Book Thief to be better than the print version?

Yes. I have not read the print version but the narrator was fabulous and gave so much more to the story.

What did you like best about this story?

That it was told through the Grim Reapers eyes. Ingenious.

Have you listened to any of Dennis Olsen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I would like to. He is an awesome narrator.

Beautiful

Listen to this book, read this book, own this book. This book a nothing but a work of art. It is lovely and a joy to read. My mother put me onto this book and I think Markus Zusak is possibly one of the great writers of this century. The story is on par with 'To Kill a Mocking Bird' and the style so interesting. This book will make you laugh, make you cry, it will change your life. Okay it is a good read and Dennis Olsen is fantastic at narrating it. Loved it and will want to read it for years to come. It don't get much better than this.

Great storytelling from a different viewpoint.

Really enjoyed this story from the perspective of a young girl fostered into a Munich home during WWII. There are many great stories from the war and this one stands out for it's authentic feel and the less commonly explored perspective of the German townsfolk. An amusing, moving and fascinating work. The narration was wonderful and I enjoyed the snatches of accordion music (relevant to the story) played prior to each chapter.
Well worth a credit.