The book thief author interview

Zusak, author of four previous teen novels including 2006 printz honor book i am the messenger, put aside his housecleaning chores to talk with bookpage from his home in sydney. I had the pleasure of being involved with a roundtable interview for the upcoming film the book thief with director brian percival, star of the film sophie nelisse, and author of the bestselling book, markus zusak. The author of the bestselling phenomenon reveals to ew why his epic new novel bridge of clay took him two decades to write. In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, awardwinning author markus zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time. Interview with author of the book thief steppenwolf theatre. Published in 2005, the book thief would go on to be developed into a feature film, win several major awards, and sell more than 15 million copies worldwide. I am the messenger, two novels which became international bestsellers. He says of the book thief, when i first started writing, death was a lot more macabre. Do you like markus zusaks writing style in this novel. The film is about liesel, sophie nelisse who is handed over by her mother, to a foster family in preworld war ii nazi.

In a new storyented segment, markus zusak, new york times bestselling author of the 2005 blockbuster novel the book thief, talks about his life and career, storytelling and the vital importance of. The book thief is a 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 and sold 16 million copies. His newest, muchanticipated novel, bridge of clay, will release in october 2018. The complete guide to creating mother daughter book clubs seal press 2009 and creator of mother daughter book. Set in germany in the years 19391943, the book thief tells the story of liesel, narrated by death who has in his possession the book she wrote about these years. Author markus zusak is a young writer whose parents lived in europe during the war. A conversation with markus zusak publishers weekly.

If you have read the book and youre about to watch the movie, you may find percivals adaptation to be too simplified compared to the intricate thematic structure. Markus zusak, author of the book thief mindfood markus zusak is a storyteller. Interview with markus zusak actress, writer and director heidi stillman wrote the stage adaptation of the book thief, playing at steppenwolf theatre this fall. Markus zusak, author of bestselling novel the book thief, answers questions from guardian childrens books site members about the film of his book, which is released this week. Interview with markus zusak, author of the book thief and i am the messenger. Markus frank zusak 36 was born in sydney australia on june 23, 1975. His work is translated into more than forty languages, and has spent more than a decade on the new york times bestseller list, establishing zusak as one of the most successful authors to come out of australia. Zusak discussed his writing process and his new book bridge of clay.

Markus zusak the author of the book thief explains why failure is his best friend, and why all writers tend to be loners and the same simple idea applies to writing, i hope. This is wonderful for author markus zusak but it is not immediately remarkable, until you remember that the book thief was published in the. The book thief 1 the book thief markus zusak markus zusak reading the first printed edition. Zusak was generous with his time, and we were able to talk about writing in general as well as specifics about two of his works, i am the messenger and the book thief. The book thief was added to the worlds arsenal of wwii novels in 2005 and quickly became a bestseller. The book thief 257 likes like share on facebook 30119 views its just a small story really, about among other things. Author interview markus zusak, author of the book thief bookpage. New novel coming from book thief author markus zusak. Markus zusaks unforgettable story is about the ability of books to feed the soul. Posted in author interviews tagged author interview, i am the messenger, markus zusak, the book thief, young adult fiction permalink about cindy hudson cindy hudson is the author of book by book. Interview with author of the book thief thank you to the chicago public library for partnering on the content of this article.

Markus zusak, author of bestselling novel the book thief, answers questions from guardian childrens books site members about the film of his. Markus zusak, the author of the book thief, the bestselling world war ii drama that was made into a film starring geoffrey rush and emily watson, has a new young adult. The book thief interview with sophie nelisse, director. His father was a house painter from austria and his mother was from a small town near munich, germany. The book thief the ny times good reads the guardian book companion.

The book thief author markus zusak on bridge of clay. Interview with markus zusak, author of the book thief. I read some books that were the right books for me. The book thief is the fifth novel by australian author, markus zusak. What inspired you to write about a hungry, illiterate girl who has such a desire to read that she. The inspiring drama was directed by brian percival and is based on the bestselling book by australian novelist markus zusak.

Markus zusaks international bestseller the book thief marks its 10th anniversary this year. A girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical germans, a jewish fistfighter, and quite a lot of thievery a conversation with markus zusak about the book thief. Liesel meminger cannot read when she arrives at her new home, but finds herself drawn to books, which she proceeds to borrow. Ppt the book thief powerpoint presentation free to. In the hands of australian writer markus zusak, death is a surprisingly enjoyable omniscient narrator. The milestone is celebrated with a new special edition, containing 32 pages of bonus content including manuscript pages, original sketches, pages from zusaks writing notebook and a letter from the author. An unforgettable and sweeping family saga from markus zusak, the storyteller who gave us the extraordinary bestseller the book thief the breathtaking story of five brothers who bring each other up in a world run by their own rules.

The book thief author, markus zusak on death, reading and. Author interviews npr interviews with top authors and the npr book tour, a weekly feature and podcast where leading authors read and discuss their writing. The book thief is a very personal story for zusak, whose german mother was a young girl during the holocaust. The tale of the little girl surviving nazi germany, taking refuge in her love for books and bringing about change in her own way, is a tale that one isnt likely to forget once one reads it. Talking about the movie the author said, when you watch the film based on the book thief, you really get to see the characters. Liesel meminger is a foster girl living outside of munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by. Alec is excited to give away a free copy of his novel.

Markus zusak born 23 june 1975 is an australian writer of german origin. Markus zusak, author of the book thief and the messenger us title, i am the messenger spoke to me way back in 2007, shortly following the paperback release of the book thief this interview was specifically for the belvedere writers club, a project aimed at helping new writers get their short fiction published, so i was specifically interested in how markus got started and what his. A new york times bestseller for seven years running thats soon to be a major motion picture, this printz honor book by the author of i am the messenger is an unforgettable tale about the ability of books to feed the soul. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. The name markus zusak rings a bell in the minds of book lovers for his bestknown masterpiece, the book thief. A conversation with markus zusak about the book thief a story about, among other things. Its his first book, and i always enjoy spotlight upandcoming authors on my gla blog. Heidi and markus zusak took part in the below conversation via email in spring 2012. Death was decidedly overworked during the war, but he informs the reader that he saw young liesel meminger three times in those years before he finally. Interview with markus zusakauthor of the book thief.

Author markus zusak sits down for an interview with the daily iowan in the iowa city public library on monday, oct. For more information about markus zusak or events happening in conjunction with the chicago public librarys the book thief one book, one chicago programming, please visit. He lives in sydney, australia, with his wife and children. Odd narrator of a girls story nprs john ydstie interviews markus zusak, author of the book thief, a novel set in world war ii germany with death himself as.

Zusak spoke with pw about his twodecade journey writing bridge of clay. How might the story look if it was told from maxs point of view. It was adapted into a 20 feature film of the same name. Zusak chose the subject matter of the book thief in part to share the stories his parents told him about growing up in austria and germany during world war ii. Interview with the book thief author the book thief movie, being released this month, is based on a novel by markus zusak, who was born in australia to german parents. In an interview, you mentioned that writing this book was difficult. The setting is nazi germany just before the start of world war two, through to 1943, and the story is narrated by death. The book thief struggles under the tall order usa today, despite its moments of brilliance the washington post. Interview with author markus zusak i was first turned on to markus zusak when i watched an interview he gave about the book thief. Actress, writer and director heidi stillman wrote the stage adaptation of the book thief, playing at steppenwolf theatre this fall. Interview with markus zusak, author of the book thief youtube. The book thief films biggest hurdle was death film. Markus zusak is the international bestselling author of six novels, including the book thief and most recently, bridge of clay. No matter what anyone ever says about that book, whether good or bad, i know it was the best i could do, and i dont think a writer can ask for more of himself than that.