I bought the book almost a year ago, and wouldn’t have read it for another year, if not for the recommendation made by friends. At first, I didn’t find the book interesting and put it down several times. However, this time I read on.

This is the story of Liesel Meminger, an orphan girl who is living in a small town off Munich. Liesel Meminger is our book thief.

First time Liesel stole a book, she didn’t know letters to read it. But with the help of her foster father, she learnt how to read. As time went on, she found books irresistible, and ended up stealing several other books as well.

What is remarkable about the book is its narrator. The story is narrated by death itself, but here the death is not what we expect it to be. Death is kind and feels sympathy for human beings. Death is haunted by human beings. The reader would almost feel sorry for poor death :)

It is not just the story of Liesel. It is the story of Liesel, her foster parents, her best friend Rudy and all residents of Molching during the World War II Germany. Death is everywhere. It is watching Liesel in her home. It is watching Liesel in the streets playing football or stealing books & apples. And death is also at concentration camps and at places where the bombs were dropped. And the reader is taken on the journey of lives of residents in Molching, as seen by death. The book is a beautifully written narration on life, death and humanity, narrated by death. It is a true masterpiece. I am glad I didn’t put it down this time.

You may also find the book boring at first, but I urge you all to read this book. It is a gem that you don’t want to miss.