Page 499 - The Book Thief

Sometimes she wrote about what was happening in the basement at the time of
writing. She had just finished the moment when Papa had slapped her on the
church steps and how theyd heil Hitlered together. Looking across, Hans
Hubermann was packing the accordion away. Hed just played for half an hour as
Liesel wrote.

PAGE 42
Papa sat with me tonight. He brought the
accordion down and sat close to where Max
used to sit. I often look at his fingers and
face when he plays. The accordion breathes.
There are lines on his cheeks. They look drawn
on, and for some reason, when I see them,
I want to cry. It is not for any sadness or
pride. I just like the way they move and
change. Sometimes I think my papa is an
accordion. When he looks at me and smiles
and breathes, I hear the notes.

After ten nights of writing, Munich was bombed again. Liesel was up to page

102 and was asleep in the basement. She did not hear the cuckoo or the sirens,
and she was holding the book in her sleep when Papa came to wake her. Liesel,
come. She took The Book Thief and each of her other books, and they fetched
Frau Holtzapfel.

PAGE 175
A book floated down the Amper River.
A boy jumped in, caught up to it, and held
it in his right hand. He grinned. He stood
waist-deep in the icy, Decemberish water.
How about a kiss, Saumensch ? he said.