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A stand alone novel by Markus Zusak published 2006.

I have no idea why it’s taken me so long to read this book, fool that I am.
What an extraordinary read it was. Not because death was the narrator, which he is, but the writing style was so different. It reads like an omnibus of short stories all held together by a handful of characters.

Much has already been written about this book so I will not muddy the waters too much more.

Suffice to say that as a young girl, Liesel Meminger, The Book Thief, is being fostered parented by Mr. and Mrs. Hubermann in the small German town of Molching. WW2 is well underway and whilst most German citizens are held in Adolf Hitler’s thrall the Hubermann’s are most definitely not. During WW1 Hans Hubermann’s life was saved thanks to the efforts of a German Jew, a man he called a friend. Whilst Hans went home after the war his friend did not.

So, when a young Jewish man, Max Vandenburg, presents himself to the Hubermann’s seeking shelter Hans doesn’t think twice, he gives Max what shelter he can.
This act of kindness will colour the rest of the Hebermann’s and Liesel’s lives until the day they die. For some, death will take his time in calling but for others death will come calling all too soon.

In this world there are monsters and there are Saints but regardless of who or what you are in a war there are only losers, no one wins.

This is a remarkable read and if you haven’t read it yet do so. That’s an order.

5 stars all the way.