Markus Zusak: Herring

“When she came to write her story, she would wonder when the books and the words started to mean not just something, but everything.”

“He was waving. "Saukerl," she laughed, and as she held up her hand, she knew completely that he was simultaneously calling her a Saumensch. I think that's as close to love as eleven-year-olds can get.”

“The song was born on her breathe and died at her lips.”

“Don't punish yourself,' she heard her say again, but there would be punishment and pain, and there would be happiness, too. That was writing.”

“Liesel's blood had dried inside of her. It crumbled. She almost broke into pieces on the steps.”

“She could smell the pages. She could almost taste the words as they stacked up around her.”

“I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.”

“Somewhere in all the snow, she could see her broken heart, in two pieces.”

“If only she could be so oblivious again, to feel such love without knowing it, mistaking it for laughter and bread with only the scent of jam spread on top of it. It was the best time of her life.”

“I realize that nothing belongs to her anymore and she belongs to everything.”

“The point is, Ilsa Hermann had decided to make suffering her triumph. When it refused to let go of her, she succumbed to it. She embraced it.”

“She even touches Jimmy's face on the photos, and I see what it is to love someone like Milla loved that man. Her fingertips are made of love.”

“Better that we leave the paint behind," Hans told her, "than ever forget the music.”

“Somewhere in all the snow, she could see her broken heart, in two pieces. Each half was glowing, and beating under all that white.”

“I’m Angelina,” she says. “Are you here to save us?” I can see a tiny spark of hope awaken in her eyes.
“You’re right, Angelina - I’m here to save you.”
“Can you? Really?”
“I’ll try,” I say and the girl smiles.”

“She rubbed her eyes, and after a long study of his face, she spoke
"Is it really you?"
Is it from your cheek, she thought, that I took the seed?
The man nodded.
His heart wobbled and he held tighter to the branches.
It is.”

“Just be patient, she told herself, and with the mounting pages, the strength of her writing fist grew.”

“Clearly, I see it.
I was just about to leave when I found her kneeling there.
A mountain range of rubble was written, designed, erected around her. She was clucthing at a book.”

“I'd been in love with her for years. I never left this suburban town. I didn't go to university. I went to Audrey.”