Page 430 - The Book Thief

Of course, there were many thoughts, sketches, and dreams relating to Stuttgart

and Germany and the Fhrer. Recollections of Maxs family were also there. In
the end, he could not resist including them. He had to.

Then came page 117.

That was where The Word Shaker itself made its appearance.

It was a fable or a fairy tale. Liesel was not sure which. Even days later, when
she looked up both terms in the Duden Dictionary, she couldnt distinguish
between the two.

On the previous page, there was a small note.

PAGE 116
LieselI almost scribbled this story out. I thought you
might be too old for such a tale, but maybe no one is. I
thought of you and your books and words, and this strange
story came into my head. I hope you can find some good in it.

She turned the page.

THERE WAS once a strange, small man. He decided three important details
about his life:

He would part his hair from the opposite side to everyone else.

He would make himself a small, strange mustache.

He would one day rule the world.

The young man wandered around for quite some time, thinking, planning, and
figuring out exactly how to make the world his. Then one day, out of nowhere, it
struck himthe perfect plan. Hed seen a mother walking with her child. At one

point, she admonished the small boy, until finally, he began to cry. Within a few