I've been reading a lot of memoirs, and the small bit of fiction I've read in the last few years was mostly okay but not great, so reading this beautifully written story was a nice change of pace.

Leisel steals her first book on the day of her brother's funeral. Despite the fact that she could not read, she felt compelled to take the abandoned book. Her foster father teaches her to read, cementing the bond between them. As life goes on in Nazi Germany, she acquires several more books, most of them stolen. Death narrates the story of her life, looming above as a silent observer.

The author has a wonderful way of capturing all kinds of things from the visible and tangible to the joys and aches of emotions. He manages to be descriptive without being pretentious or overly wordy. He makes his characters as well as their surroundings come to life. For a book about such a sad and difficult time, it's surprisingly optimistic.

Released this book into a Little Free Library - happy travels!

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