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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)
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
- Richard
- 11-03-12
Better as an Audiobook
I've actually started to read this book twice in written form and given up both times as I found the literary conceit of the narrative voice a bit irritating. However, the superb performance of the audiobook really brought the story to life for me and actually made it a powerful work of fiction.
It was with this download that I began to realise that audiobooks could mean something more than just being able to read while walking the dog and could be fantastic performances in their own right.
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3 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
- Netty
- 02-12-13
Amazing book!
What did you like most about The Book Thief?
The was a very unusual book that surprised and enchanted me. I took a risk buying it as I tend to read detective novels and I'm very pleased that I did. It will stay with me for a long time.
What did you like best about this story?
The Book Thief was beautifully written, poignant and thought provoking. A well crafted book with characters that were brought to life with great sensitivity that made me care about them. The story was set in Nazi Germany and the main character was a little girl who stole books, her motivation for doing so changed through the story from one of opportunism at at a time of emotional trauma to a fascination with and love of books. There was great tragedy as well as humour in this extraordinary tale, but ultimately I found it an uplifting read.
Any additional comments?
I have recommended this book to all my family and friends. It's fabulous!
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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
- G. Heslop
- 23-11-21
Brilliant, heart warming and sad
brilliant story, the best and the worst of humans, so heart warming and at the same time so sad.
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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
- Lyn
- 13-11-18
Outstanding story and narration!
Hugely enjoyed! Cared deeply for the characters. Fantastic narration. wonderful use of language throughout the story. Happy, sad and everything in between. Highly recommend!
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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
- Samuel
- 10-02-19
Beautiful
The "Word Shaker" is probably the most beautiful short story I have ever heard.
Exquisitely written and the most elegant story telling by Marcus
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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
- mh7474
- 28-10-20
A funny and sad masterpiece.
A funny and sad masterpiece. Beautifully narrated. The characters have come alive in my imagination. My heart is filled with their story. And the story of humanity: the best and worst of us is here in this tale. What a thrilling experience it has been to listen to this. Transported to heaven and back. Thanks Mr Zusak. And to the wonderful narrator who gave authentic voice to all the characters and made me laugh and cry out loud and in public as I walked listening (must’ve looked insane, but was utterly gripped by the story). Thank you.
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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
- S J Brownlie
- 17-02-20
A modern classic very well narrated.
Without doubt one of the best novels I’ve read and listened to. I had read the book a few years ago but thoroughly enjoyed Allan Corduner’s narration on my Audible revisit. A unique and original wartime story peopled with unforgettable characters who remain in memory long after the book is finished. Pretty sure I’ll revisit it again in the future. Highly recommended.
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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
- Louise
- 02-03-20
stunning
I'd never heard of Allan Corduner before listening to this, but I'm certain no other voice could have perforned this incredible story better. The Book Thief is heartbreaking, hilarious and hopeful in equal measure. You'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't get this audiobook.
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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
- Anonymous User
- 17-11-20
Brilliant book and wonderfully narrated
This is such an engaging and moving story told from such a unique and unusual point of view. I loved it from start to finish and the narration done by Allan Corduner is nothing short of an outstanding performance. I was kept engrossed in the story and the characters all the way through and I think the narrator did a fantastic job. this book is sad but also beautiful and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good story!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms. R. Manning
- 06-05-18
a war of words
a beautiful and descriptive narration of struggle , life and loss. Sad but surviving. a bit like life itself
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