So weeks ago a friend of mine at work told me that Markus Zusak was coming to speak at the Provo Library.
Who is Markus Zusak?
He is the 30 something year old Australian author of a book called
The Book Thief:
I don’t want to even attempt to tell you what it is all about, it is better you go in with no preconceptions of idea. Here is a cool image I found though, and it will be hint enough.
I was really excited because I was actually in the middle of reading the book and really enjoying it.
The day tickets were available I got in line two hours before the library opened and waited in line.
Karl came with me, brought game and breakfast, and we had a grand old time.
By the time the library opened, the line was out the door, and it was crowed.
Tickets were given out in the art gallery.
Weeks later the day finally arrived.
My dear friend Devanie came with me. She was the one who told me about the book, and was a huge fan too.
There were about 500 people there that night.
The man himself arrived and the room, which was mostly women, went wild.
He told about hid life, his parents, and about his writing style. He answered questions and told stories that helped his reader understand about the inspiration for his book.
After the presentation we waited for two hours in line to meet him and have him sign our books.
For those of you who know me well, I get really easily star struck.
We were almost there.
I look terribly fat in this picture. But it is the only one I have of me and him!
I asked for him to sign just his name in my copy of The Book Thief, but he was tired, and started to write dear before he realized what he was doing. When he realized what had happened, he said, “No, I know what I will do, and he wrote:
March 2011
Here’s to Life,
Death, Love , Colours, and BOOKS.
Markus Zusak
He made the Dear look like Death.
In my copy of i am the messenger he wrote:
Dear Karl and Allison
Best Always
From Sydney,
(A DAWING OF THE OPERA HOUSE)
Markus Zusak
I asked him about the Character of Lesiel, and why he chose to write about an adolescent girl. He said it was his mother, and that she wan’t a girl in his mind, she was just Lesiel. I also told him that my father, whose name just happened to ALSO be Marcus had lived in Sydney in the 70’s. (His home town in Sydney.) He was politely interested, but tired.
Then there was Dev, who was so captivated by him.
He was so nice and humble about everything. He looked really tired. It was after nine when we said out goodbyes.
GET IT, READ IT, OWN IT!
BRIDGE OF CLAY NEWS ???????