Page 83 - The Book Thief

A GIRL MADE OF DARKNESS

SOME STATISTICAL INFORMATION
First stolen book: January 13, 1939
Second stolen book: April 20, 1940
Duration between said stolen books: 463 days

If you were being flippant about it, youd say that all it took was a little bit of fire,
really, and some human shouting to go with it. Youd say that was all Liesel
Meminger needed to apprehend her second stolen book, even if it smoked in her
hands. Even if it lit her ribs.

The problem, however, is this:

This is no time to be flippant.

Its no time to be half watching, turning around, or checking the stovebecause
when the book thief stole her second book, not only were there many factors
involved in her hunger to do so, but the act of stealing it triggered the crux of
what was to come. It would provide her with a venue for continued book
thievery. It would inspire Hans Hubermann to come up with a plan to help the
Jewish fist fighter. And it would show me, once again, that one opportunity leads
directly to another, just as risk leads to more risk, life to more life, and death to
more death.

In a way, it was destiny.

You see, people may tell you that Nazi Germany was built on anti-Semitism, a
somewhat overzealous leader, and a nation of hate-fed bigots, but it would all
have come to nothing had the Germans not loved one particular activity:

To burn.