Welcome to Markus Zusak Week!

#MZweek

I decided I wanted to be part of the latest blogging trend and have a week! My week of choice?

Markus Zusak Week!

I'm timing this week to coincide with his latest trip to the U.S. Yes, tomorrow he will be appearing in Chicago as part of their One Book One Chicago celebration. I hope you people in that area get to go. Sadness if you miss it. That area of the country is also lucky enough to be able to go to a play adaptation this month of The Book Thief. Melissa from Avid Reader is part of that lucky group and she will be telling us all about it on her blog later this week. I can't wait to hear how it was!

The Story

So once upon a time I heard about this book called The Book Thief. I can't remember where exactly, but I think it was at book club (the other one, not the one I host every month.) And now I can't remember what they said, but I remember thinking... "sounds like a book I'd like." So I got my hands on it (did I buy it? I can't even remember!) and read it back in late 2006 or early 2007. That was before I started book blogging so I have no review to link to then. I remember thinking, wow, that was such a different and powerful book. Wow.. that book was so... amazing! And the more I thought about it the more impressed I was.

That year, I convinced the book club, the one that meets at my house, to read it, which is why I re-read it only one year later. The second go around was even better.

Sometime during that year, I researched and looked up the author to see what else he'd written. I came across this video on Good Morning America's site (done in 2006 I think) and literally melted.



From there, I had to read everything he'd written and learn everything I could about this author. Sadly, at that time there wasn't much out there to learn. He seemed very reclusive and mysterious!

I found myself talking about him at every bookish opportunity I had. Once I started blogging, I finally had an outlet where I could be a little fanatic and not worry about the crazy looks. Mostly.

Several years went by, and meanwhile I read all his books, then read them again. I was so disappointed to realize that his very first book, The Underdog, was no longer in print and completely unavailable  I wondered if I'd ever be able to read it. Happily, last year, it was reprinted along with its two companion books, all about the Wolfe brothers, in a single volume called Underdogs. Sweet. I was so excited!

And then, at the end of 2010, the word started going around that he was coming to this area, that the library would be hosting him the next year. I thought it was a joke at first, and just couldn't believe that this sort of reclusive, probably shy, author all the way from Australia would come to Utah of all places. It really was hard to fathom.

But come he did, and let's just say, he exceeded all expectations.... and expectations where high after all the years of promoting, reading and wondering about him.  And now, more than ever, I love it when I have the chance to talk about him and his books and his writing.

This week, I'll be having several guest posts on my blog written by other Markus Zusak fans... including some reviews of his books, especially the more obscure ones, some thoughts from across the blogosphere about what people are saying about his books, and thoughts from a first time reader.

I hope you'll come have some fun with us!

Giveaways!

To get things started there's a couple of giveaways lasting all week long.

To have a chance to win The Book Thief, head on over to Jessica's, from The Bluestocking Society.

To have a chance to win I Am the Messenger, stay here and comment!

Yes, once again, instead of having you enter Rafflecopter doodads or fill out a form, I'm making you comment. I know, it's a pain (hopefully less of a pain than making you follow me, or tweet, etc. Oops, my giveaway issues are showing!)

 BUT, the whole idea of this week is to get us talking, and so, I have questions to help!

In order to enter the giveaway for I Am the Messenger:

** please answer any of the questions (found below) in comments.
** you will get extra entries for replying to other people's comments... in other words, I will count every comment as another entry (excluding my own comments of course.)
** I will be sending the winner this book direct from Amazon, so you must have an address they will ship to in order to be eligible. Ugh, sorry.
** At the end of this week's celebration, I'll pick a winner using random.org and let you know by email and get your mailing address then.
** Please include your email address in your comment. Thanks!
** And, if you'd like to play along, but already have I Am the Messenger, I'll send you another one of his books instead! :)

Now, the questions:

-- Have you had an experience with a Markus Zusak book? If so, tell us about it.
-- If you've read more than one, which one is your favorite?
-- If you haven't read one yet, why not? What's stopping you?
-- Have you read one of his books and NOT liked it? If this is the case, I'd love to know why.
-- Have you meet Markus Zusak? What was your experience like?
-- What author would you like to meet, but think it will never in a million years happen?

Thanks for playing! I hope you have fun this week celebrating with me!