The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is a novel about the power of words. The book is narrated by Death and tells the story of Liesel, a girl who steals books to learn to read. The book is set in Nazi Germany and deals with themes of war, love, and loss.
About “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak
The Book Thief is a 2005 historical novel by Australian author Markus Zusak and is his most popular work. Published in 2005, The Book Thief became an international bestseller and was translated into 63 languages. It was also turned into a 2013 film of the same name.
Set in Nazi Germany during World War II, The Book Thief is narrated by Death, who tells the story of Liesel Meminger, a 9-year-old girl taken in by a foster family after her Communist parents are killed. Liesel steals books from Nazi book burnings, hides them under her bed, and eventually learns to read and write with the help of her foster father.
The book explores themes of death, love, hope, humanity, and the power of words.
Here are the best Quotes from The Book Thief
The Book Thief has been praised for its beautifully written prose and moving portrayal of life in Nazi Germany. Let’s look at some of the best quotes :
1. “When she came to write her story, she would wonder when the books and the words started to mean not just something, but everything.”- Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 30
2. “First the colors. Then the humans. That’s usually how I see things. Or at least, how I try.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 3
3. “No matter how many times she was told that she was loved, there was no recognition that the proof was in the abandonment.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 32
4. “You are going to die….does this worry you?” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 3
You are going to die. This is an inevitable fact that we must all face. For some, the thought of death is a worry and a source of anxiety. But why? Death is simply a part of life. It is the natural conclusion to our time here on earth. So why does the thought of death worry us so much? There are a few reasons why death might be a cause for worry. For one, we don’t know what comes after death. What happens to our souls? Will we be reunited with loved ones who have passed before us? Or will we simply cease to exist? These are questions that have yet to be answered definitively, and they can be unsettling to think about. Another reason death might worry us is because it represents the end of our time here on earth.
5. “A snowball in the face is surely the perfect beginning to a lasting friendship.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 48
6. “What do you want to kiss me for? I’m filthy.’- Liesel
So am I.’- Rudy” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 54
7. “As always, one of her books was next to her.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 90
8. “It’s hard to not like a man who not only notices the colors, but speaks them.”- Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 87
9. “I guess humans like to watch a little destruction. Sand castles, houses of cards, that’s where they begin. Their great skills is their capacity to escalate.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 109
Some people may see it as a sad commentary on humanity’s love of violence and destruction. Others may see it as a simple observation of human nature. Whatever your interpretation, there is no denying that humans are fascinated by destruction. We are drawn to it like moths to a flame. We can’t help but watch as buildings crumble and cars collide. It is both terrifying and exhilarating. So why do we love to watch destruction? Perhaps it is because it reminds us of our own mortality. It reminds us that we are not invincible and that everything can be taken away from us in an instant. Or maybe we just enjoy the thrill of seeing something destroyed.
10. “The only thing worse than a boy who hates you: a boy that loves you.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 52
11. “Somewhere, far down, there was an itch in his heart, but he made it a point not to scratch it. He was afraid of what might come leaking out.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 60
12. “You can’t eat books, sweetheart.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 151
13. “It’s a lot easier, she realized, to be on the verge of something than to actually be it. This would still take time.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 87
14. “You cannot be afraid, Read the book. Smile at it. It’s a great book-the greatest book you’ve ever read.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 151
15. “…one opportunity leads directly to another, just as risk leads to more risk, life to more life, and death to more death.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 83
As Markus Zusak states, one opportunity leads directly to another. This is seen time and time again, especially when it comes to taking risks. The more risks we take in life, the more opportunities come our way.
However, this can also be a double-edged sword. As we take more risks, we also open ourselves up to more potential for failure. But without risk, we would never experience the joys and successes of life. Therefore, we must learn to strike a balance between taking risks and being cautious.
16. “When death captures me,” the boy vowed, “he will feel my fist in his face.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 189
17. “So much good, so much evil. Just add water.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 164
18. “Please, trust me, I most definitely can be cheerful. I can be amiable. Agreeable. Affable. And that’s only the A’s. Just don’t ask me to be nice. Nice has nothing to do with me.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 3
19. “Imagine smiling after a slap in the face. Then think of doing it twenty-four hours a day.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 211
20. “If they killed him tonight, at least he would die alive.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 168
21. “Like most misery, it started with apparent happiness.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 84
22. “Even death has a heart.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 242
23. “She wanted none of those days to end, and it was always with disappointment that she watched the darkness stride forward. ” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 355-56
24. “If only she could be so oblivious again, to feel such love without knowing it, mistaking it for laughter. ”- Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 358
25. “Can a person steal happiness? Or is just another internal, infernal human trick?” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 370
In his novel “The Book Thief,” Markus Zusak explores the idea of whether or not happiness can be stolen. Zusak suggests that happiness cannot be stolen but is something we trick ourselves into believing.
He writes: “You can’t steal happiness. You can only ever borrow it for a while.” In other words, happiness is something that we experience for a brief moment in time, and then it’s gone. It’s not something that we can keep hold of. The idea that happiness is fleeting and cannot be stolen is sad but realistic. We can’t control what happens to us in life, but we can control how we react to it.
26. “It kills me sometimes, how people die.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 464
It kills me sometimes how people die. We go about our days not really thinking about it, and then something happens, and we’re faced with the reality of our own mortality. It’s a scary thing to think about death. But it’s even more frightening to think about the death of someone we love.
27. “Humans, if nothing else, have the good sense to die.” – Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, Page 491
Markus Zusak, the author of The Book Thief, believes that humans have the good sense to die. He says that death is not something to be feared but something to be embraced. He believes death is a natural part of life and something we should all accept. Zusak says that death is not an enemy but a friend. He believes it is our job to make peace with death and learn to live with it.
Let’s Wind Up…
The Book Thief is an amazing novel with incredible quotes. These quotes provide insight into the human condition and are sure to stay with readers long after they finish the book. If you haven’t read The Book Thief, you should definitely add it to your reading list.