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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
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Nicola
- 28-12-07
A Brilliant Listen
A novel narrated by Death himself needs an authoritative voice to carry it off. Allan Cordunner brings this remarkable story to life, giving each of the characters their own distinct voice. Highly recommended.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- bookwormbadger
- 14-02-12
Staggeringly beautiful
I absolutely loved this audiobook. The language and characters were so vivid and real, and the story was incredibly moving and heartfelt. It was also incredibly well read. Be warned though - you'll have a lump in your throat or may even end up in tears towards the end. Highly recommended.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gareth
- 17-03-14
Amazing!!!!
What made the experience of listening to The Book Thief the most enjoyable?
Simply the best book I've listened to of late! Beautifully written! Wonderful story and narrated perfectly
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Leah Hutchison
- 21-10-21
There’s a first time for everything…
I read this book alongside listening to it, I have recently found this is a thoroughly enjoyable way to experience a story… but this story was so different, so unique, so moving. I had never been a crier when it comes to books… but The Book Thief broke that mould for me… for the last 45 minutes the tears were continuously streaming down my face and dripping off my chin like Max Vandenburg’s sun.
Beautiful story… beautifully written… and narrated faultlessly
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Scott Byers
- 23-12-21
Loved it!
Can't believe I haven't heard of this book before. What a fantastic story and using death as the narrator was a stroke of genius.
I listen to talking books on my drive to work and this book had me laughing at Frau Himmermans swearing, crying at fate of the Jews and a cocktail of mixed emotions at the end.
Definately one of my favourite stories, I didn't want it to end.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Grace Willavise
- 28-12-17
Fantastic story!
Beautifully written and read. The Book Theif is one my my favourites now. Brilliant listen!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms Much
- 26-10-16
Moving Exceptional Book About kindness
Takes a while to get into this book hang in there! the story of human behavior braveness under War, this book one an award it transport you to the place to the families to the friends Lisa makes it's sad but happy.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mommiecat
- 11-08-16
Amusing but overwhelmingly sad
Excellent writing, narration superb. The reader is drawn into Lisle's story, her family and the boy next door, her very own Jesse Owens. The warmth and wit of her foster father, his patience and understanding allow Lisle to discover the mystery and spellbinding power of words. This period in Germany's history has been explored by myriad authors but never so touchingly depicted. One not to pass up!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Paris
- 18-10-16
An incredible read!
An incredible read!
'The Book Thief' is awash with so many different emotions,. All of which you will feel intensely.
Set in Germany, during WW2, you may well assume that it would be full of sadness, destruction and death alone. You'd be sorely mistaken. This book holds laughter, the mischief of children, the strength and courage of a portion of humanity and the beauty of the Soul!
The narrator was, in my opinion a wonderful individual, who read it as if he truly was there. He had conviction and managed to convince me that he was every one that he bought to life and spoke on behalf of! Every character he was had a different voice and personality and although I realise Markus wrote it that way, not all narrators can voice it that way! Excellent job!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- T S Hodgson
- 27-03-16
A very unusual perspective
Arguably WWII has been written about ad nauseum but the perspective from which this book is written is so unusual, it is worth listening to, just for that.
The book itself is quite slow in places but overall is engaging and the main protagonist, Lisel is very likeable and believable.
I would recommend it.
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