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The Book Thief
- Narrated by: Allan Corduner
- Length: 13 hrs and 55 mins
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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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- Janine Lewis
- 12-10-19
My favourite book
Truly beautiful. A work of art. Wonderfully narrated too by Alan who does a spectacular job at bringing these enchanted words to life.
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- Lou
- 31-12-21
A story meant to be read out loud
This story was meant for audiobooks! The narration is perfect! Beautiful and definitely a recommended one!
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- Amazon Customer
- 16-11-21
Superb.
Please listen to this most beautifully written and superbly read book. It is wise and wonderful in equal measure; one of those books after which you’re never quite the same. Thank you.
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- Anonymous User
- 16-10-20
read it
loved the book, its a perfect novel to get lost in. the narrator is great
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- BoydMoney
- 28-11-18
fantastic: a beautiful story with many dimensions
wonderfully narrated by Allan Corduner, The Book Thief is a must-read for anyone and everyone. It explores both beautiful and dark elements of the human spectrum of emotions with the narrative of those emotions maturing as Liesel does. Gripping, sad, endearing and 'real'. I loved it.
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- Kindle Customer
- 13-07-16
Excellent adaption of the book
One of my favourite books with a quirky style and great themes. Done absolute justice by the performance. The German accents grow on you and really add to the story so don't let them put you off during the preview.
Great adaption.
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- laurna
- 07-05-16
loved it!
This read was well overdue. I loved the characters - even Death who narrated the story. Really couldn't put it down. It made me laugh out loud and cry.
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- Ms Flower
- 10-04-16
The Book Thief -great read
Excellant read, on every page. It's a book you just can't stop reading. I will treasure this book.
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- Amazon Customer
- 10-02-16
loved it.The voice of the narrator was excellent
would recommend.I didn't want it to end.Worth reading.The narrators voice is amazing even when he speaks German
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- clairey
- 06-08-16
wonderful
Loved every second of it - it stays with you after you finish it. It is funny and sad and a thought provoker.
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