View Quote The bombs were coming thicker now. It's probably fair to say that no one was able to serve the Führer as loyally as me.

View Quote One small fact: You are going to die. Despite every effort, no one lives forever. Sorry to be such a spoiler. My advice is, when the time comes, don't panic. It doesn't seem to help. I guess I should introduce myself properly, but then again, you'll meet me soon enough — not before your time, of course; I make it a policy to avoid the living.

View Quote When I finally caught up with Max Vandenburg's soul, it was this moment that haunted him the most. For leaving his mother. For feeling that awful, light-headed relief that he would live.

View Quote It's always been the same, the excitement and rush to war. I've met so many young men over the years who have thought they were running at their enemy, when the truth was, they were running to me.

View Quote While ten thousand souls hid their heads in fear, and trembled, one Jew thanked God for the stars that blessed his eyes.

View Quote Humans, if nothing else, have a good sense to die.

View Quote Even Death has a heart.

View Quote Heaven — it was a misread on a map. No sirens that evening. First were Rudy's brothers. I read their simple dreams. Then I kissed his mother. And stole the meanness from Franz Deutscher's heart. Rosa I caught mid-snore. I could swear I heard her call me a saukarl. Then I felt her regrets for not sharing more of her very big heart. As for Hans, his soul was lighter than a child's. I felt his itch for one last tune on his accordion, and heard his final thought; "Liesel."

View Quote I have seen a great many things. I've attended all of the world's worst disasters and worked for the greatest of villains, and I've seen the greatest wonders, but it's still like I said it was: No one lives forever. When I finally came for Liesel, I took selfish pleasure in the knowledge that she had lived her ninety years so wisely. By then, her stories had touched many souls, some of whom I came to know in passing. Max, whose friendship lasted almost as long as Liesel — almost. In her final thoughts, she saw the long list of lives that merged with hers: her three children, her grandchildren, her husband. Among them, lit like lanterns, were Hans and Rosa, her brother, and the boy whose hair remained the colour of lemons forever. I wanted to tell the book thief she was one of the few souls that made me wonder what it was to live. But in the end, there were no words, only peace. The only truth I truly know is that I am haunted by humans.