Official SoundtrackClick play and listen to the beautiful music produced by John Williams for The Book Thief as you peruse this site. The somber yet hopeful tone of the music greatly mirrors the very tone of the novel and provides a backdrop for the story of the courageous, young book thief, Liesel Meminger.
The Power of Words'Tis a strange mystery, the power of words!
Life is in them, and death. A word can send The crimson colour hurrying to the cheek. Hurrying with many meanings; or can turn The current cold and deadly to the heart. Anger and fear are in them; grief and joy Are on their sound; yet slight, impalpable:-- A word is but a breath of passing air. -Letitia Elizabeth Landon The poem above, written by Letitia Elizabeth Landon, seems as if it is written directly from Liesel's perspective. These beautiful words greatly reflect the very thoughts and passions of Liesel in regards to words and her hunger for them. She finds life in words as Hans teaches her to read, and she would not be satisfied until she learned them all. The Book Thief: Official TrailerThe Official Trailer for the movie, The Book Thief, was made available to the public by 20th Century Fox in August of 2013 and made its way to the big screen in November of that same year. While the movie is certainly missing scenes and other bits of information presented in the novel, producers beautifully depicted the scenes chosen with clarity and great attention to detail. The movie is a must see!
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Official Book Covers
An interview with "The Book Thief"The above is an interview with the young actress, Sophie Neliesse, who plays Liesel Meminger in the movie, The Book Thief. Neliesse's youthful innocence and passion greatly reflects those of her character, Liesel, and though just a young girl, she understands the significance of the novel and the movie as the story pertains to adolescents today.
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What does it mean to belong?
The themes of belonging and identity are so prevalent in this novel, and this scene, perhaps my favorite of them all, so beautifully depicts the sense of belonging and family Liesel, Hans Huberman, Max, and even Rosa find together most unexpectedly. They learn to live with joy even in difficult times and begin to rely on each other when they find that there is nothing left to hold onto. The three worlds collide, and the snowball becomes a beautiful symbol of hope in the darkness.
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The above images are stills from the movie, "The Book Thief," and these artifacts directly portray the theme of belonging found within the pages of this novel. Hans Huberman wakes Liesel from her nightmares each night and teaches her to read with patience and kindness as he loves her to wholeness. She finds belonging in him and he, in her. In the very same place that Liesel learns to make meaning of letters on the pages of her stolen books, she reads to Max Vandenburg. As he suffers from illness and from a life on the run, Max finds belonging and friendship in Liesel, and her words wash over him and give him life. These characters find identity in their bravery and in each other, and their love is what would get them through the toughest of times.
