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The Book Thief
- Narrated by: Allan Corduner
- Length: 13 hrs and 55 mins
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The Book Thief
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Summary
Brought to life by the rich tone of narrator Allan Corduner's voice, The Book Thief is one audiobook that will stay lodged in your mind long after the final word has been spoken.
Shortlisted for the British Book Awards, Newcomer of the Year, 2008.
"It's just a small story, really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, a Jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery...."
This novel is narrated in the all-knowing, matter-of-fact voice of Death, who witnesses the story of the citizens of Molching.
When nine-year-old Liesel arrives outside the boxlike house of her new foster parents at 33 Himmel Street, she refuses to get out of the car. Liesel has been separated from her parents, "Kommunists", forever, and at the burial of her little brother, she steals a gravedigger's instruction manual, which she can't read. It is the beginning of her illustrious career.
In the care of the Hubermans, Liesel befriends blond-haired Rudy Steiner, a neighbour obsessed with Jesse Owens, and the mayor's wife, who hides from despair in her library. Together, Liesel and Rudy steal books - from Nazi book-burning piles, from the mayor's library, from the rich people for whom her foster mother does the ironing. In time, they take in a Jewish boxer, Max, who reads with Liesel in the basement.
By 1943, the Allied bombs are falling, and the sirens begin to wail. Liesel shares her books in the air-raid shelters. But one day in the life of Himmel Street, the wail of the sirens comes too late.
A life-changing tale of the cruel twists of fate and the coincidences on which all our lives hinge, this is also a joyous look at how books can nourish the soul. Its uplifting ending will make listeners weep.
Critic reviews
"Allan Corduner is perfectly voiced as the narrator, who visits the 9-year-old book thief, whose parents have been sent to a concentration camp, three times. It¿s Zusak¿s first adult novel and it¿s breathtaking." ( Daily Express)
"Absorbing and searing." ( Washington Post)
"Zusak makes his ostensibly gloomy subject bearable in the same way Kurt Vonnegut did in Slaughterhouse-Five, with grim, darkly consoling humour." ( Time)
"Zusak's playfulness with language leavens the horror and makes the theme more resonant: words can save your life....It's a measure of how successfully Zusak has humanized these characters that even though we know they are doomed, it's no less devastating when Death finally reaches them." ( Publishers Weekly)
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What listeners say about The Book Thief
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ruth
- 18-03-14
excellent
What did you like most about The Book Thief?
I really enjoyed this book. Allan Corduner has a fabulous voice, the story is excellent and kept me interested from start to finish.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Miss E C Murray
- 16-03-20
A stunning book!
Beautifully written and superbly narrated. I haven’t enjoyed a book this much in quite a while. I would definitely recommend this.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Chris
- 26-07-21
brilliant
loved it I didn't want the book to end great story and great narrator
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- T D W
- 26-11-20
Exceptional
I don’t care that this seems to have acquired a ‘young adult’ label, maybe I’m immature, but this is without a doubt one of my favourite books. Absolutely perfect. Excellent narration too.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- janelle
- 08-12-20
Fantastic! Beautifully written book.
A new perspective on a horrifying time in history. I would highly recommend this book. Funny, heartwarming and heartbreaking.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- TDH
- 09-01-21
Simply stunning, from the first word till last
Simply stunning, from the first word till last. Masterfully written and beautifully narrated. As good as it gets.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jackie
- 16-03-21
beautiful listen
I read the book thief years ago but found the audible book much better the narration was excellent but the attemp at children's voices a tad distracting overall an excellent listen
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mrs H L Grant
- 23-05-20
Took a while to connect with the characters...
but it was worth sticking with. An unusual take on a familiar story. Heart wrenching. Great performance by Allan Corduner.
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- Natalia
- 09-01-20
Incredible book
Beautifully written and wonderfully read. I cannot recommend it highly enough. This is a masterful piece of writing and one which I would recommend everyone to read or listen to.
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- Stephaniesjr
- 27-09-18
Just great
A lovely book in every way. Funny, sad and heart warming
Highly recommend
I cannot imagine anyone not loving my this book
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