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1. How and where is the book found?
Liesel makes a friendship with the Mayors wife, whose washing and ironing is done by Liesel’s mother, and reads a few chapters a visit. The book is one of many inside the giant library Isla owns.
2. The book is a grey cover, yellowing pages and a black imprinted title. “Liesel often glancing down at the Whistler, at the grey cover and the black imprinted title.” It’s about a murder and stealing innocent lives.
3. What happens throughout the story with the book?
Liesel reads the book on the floor of the mayor’s wife’s library each time Liesel comes over to collect her washing. The last time Liesel goes over to the library the mayor’s wife offers her the book with an envelope stating an end to her service of washing and ironing. Liesel is extremely annoyed and refuses to take the book and throws it at her feet along with hurtful insults. However, the next visit would not be a lawful one; rather, she steals the book which is rightfully hers.
4. The thievery of the book is the first criminal act that Liesel and Rudy commit by THEMSELVES. The book compels her to steal it from Isla as revenge, instead of receiving it as a form of pity. The book represents her up and down relationship with Isla, as well as her strong relationship with Rudy. Failure after failure Rudy becomes fed up and suggests an idea to finally have victory over. “I need a win Liesel. Honestly.” … Stealing. They had to steal something. No. They had to steal something back. It didn’t matte what. It only needed to be soon. “Just you and me this time,” Rudy suggested. Then Liesel devises a plan. “Could she really seek revenge on a person like this? Could she despise someone this much?” Although Rudy is driven by his stomach, Liesel craved for words. A book. The Whistler. “She didn’t care about the food. Rudy no matter how hard she tried to resist the idea was secondary to her plan. It was the book she wanted. The Whistler. She wouldn’t tolerate having it given to her by a lonely pathetic old woman. Stealing it on the other hand seemed a little bit more acceptable. Stealing in a sick kind of sense was like earning it.”
“You hungry?” Rudy asked.
Liesel replied, “Starving.” For a book.
Past Students' Notes
This text is stolen from the Mayor’s library. It is the first one and is about a murderer (who is two faced and nice). It acts as foreshadowing. It symbolises Hitler searching for Max and the Jews and Rudy”s determination for a kiss. Liesel stole it with Rudy and it becomes her favourite book. The book is symbolic of Rudy’s devotion – that he will commit a crime for it. Liesel is young, and the book is horrific - which suggests she is exposed to ideas beyond her maturity. During dangerous times the book provides a distraction for all the people in the basement – this is ironic - they are listening to a story about violence whilst they are exposed to the very real possibility of their own death through bombings.