» Markus Zusak interview – The Book Thief
Write Club talks to Markus Zusak about The Book Thief, which gripped Brighton and Hove during City Reads
How do you feel about the concept of a whole city reading your book? (I have seen people reading The Book Thief in the theatre, on the bus and in the laundrette.)
It’s exciting and nerve-wracking simultaneously. There’s a part of you that loves the idea of seeing someone reading your book, but then there’s another part that dreads seeing them yawn or put it down… I’ve never seen anyone reading my book, but if I did, I’d definitely want it to be in a laundrette.
How did you research it – did you spend time in Germany?
The main research was pretty much just growing up in Sydney. My parents would sometimes tell us stories about growing up in Germany and Austria, and I was lucky they were good story tellers. It was always very off the cuff, but they were able to transport my brother and my sisters and me to another world. They made me want to become a writer.
I did actually go to Germany as well, but it was after the book was written. I went there to check my facts. Of course, I did a lot of research in libraries and museums throughout the process of writing the book as well.
What responses have you had from readers across the world and how have you felt about them?
I’m just grateful that anyone would even read it. I honestly thought this would be my least successful book, but it’s been the opposite. It’s not the easiest book to recommend to your friends, is it? Nazi Germany. Narrated by death. Nearly everyone dies. 580 pages long… I think, more than anything else, I feel grateful for everything that’s happened.
What kinds of reactions have you had from people who actually lived through that time?
The nicest thing that’s been said was probably by my parents, who said they felt like they were there again. No matter what happened after that, I felt like I had done enough, because they’re pretty harsh judges.
It’s not the easiest book to recommend to your friends, is it? Nazi Germany. Narrated by death. Nearly everyone dies. 580 pages long…
Do you see any flaws in the book now that it has has such worldwide scrutiny and popularity?
The flaws are pretty much all I see. I think when you write a book and you look back at it, it’s like looking at a photo of yourself. People say, ‘That’s a nice photo of you,’ and you’re thinking, ‘Are we looking at the same picture?!’ Every time I see a piece of The Book Thief, I know I would change something if I had the chance. Then again, it was the best I could do for that time, and you have to be content with that. It’s also good to realise that we have to look back with embarrassment. If you’re looking back, thinking, ‘Geez, I was great back then,’ it’s probably time to quit, because you’re getting worse, not better.
How has writing The Book Thief affected the way you approach your relationship with your daughter?
Honestly? I don’t know. I get to spend a lot more time with her because I can structure my days how I want without having to do other jobs. For that reason alone, the book has been a gift.
What’s your next book?
I’m working on a book about a boy obsessed with building the perfect bridge. It’s not going very well at the moment, but I hope that if I give it the time it needs, it will start to work for me.
What book do you think we in Brighton and Hove should choose for City Reads next year?
That’s a tough one, there are so many. How about Old School by Tobias Wolff. He’s a masterful writer, and it’s a truly memorable book.
