I finally read The Book Thief by Markus Zusak after a friend obsessively recommended it to me for several months (you know who you are). She technically told me to listen to the audio book version, which I tried to do, but I ran out of time to listen to it before it was due back to the library. One thing lead to another, and I read it in paper form. You know how these things go. ... Anyways ...
What a heart wrenching, wonderful book this is. Like you can see on the cover, this book technically falls into the Young Adult category. But the book is told in such a way that it will please old, young, and medium adults alike. Death narrates the story of Liesel Meminger, who lives with her foster family in a small German town during World War II. As her world collapses around her (physically and metaphorically), Leisel learns to read for the first time and the new stories she finds - and steals - help her survive. I fell in love with her foul mouthed "Mama," her accordion playing "Papa," and her partner in crime Rudy. A great read for anyone who feels that reading stories has at any time influenced - or even saved - your life.