The Book Thief Chapter 22

The Mayor's Library

• Liesel knows the mayor's wife saw her stealing the book, and she's paranoid.
• She's really afraid to deliver laundry to the mayor's house on Grande Strasse.
• Rudy goes with her (though he doesn't know why she's afraid).
• After much time-killing, Liesel knocks on the door of the mayor's house.
• The mayor's wife answers the door, takes the washing, and gives Liesel the money.
• Then she closes the door.
• Liesel is a little dazed. Maybe, just maybe, she hadn't been seen book-thieving.
• Nope, Death tells us that she was, indeed, seen by the mayor's wife, but the woman is "just waiting for the right moment" (22.36) to let her know.
• One day, Liesel goes to the mayor's house without Rudy.
• When the mayor's wife opens the door, she asks Liesel to come in.
• She tells Liesel to wait.
• Liesel thinks she'll come back with the dirty laundry, but instead she comes with a huge stack of books.
• Liesel is very afraid! She thinks the mayor's wife is going to do something awful to her.
• Instead, she invites Liesel into a room full of books.
• Shelves and shelves of books cover the walls.
• Liesel has never seen anything like it.
• She asks if she can touch them, and the mayor's wife gives her the okay.
• After touching as many books as possible, Liesel takes the stack of books the mayor is holding and puts them in their place on one of the shelves.
• The window is open in the room, and it's very cold.
• Liesel notices that the mayor's wife looks very damaged.
• After some time, Liesel leaves. She walks home in a dream.
• She realizes she didn't thank the mayor's wife. How could she be so rude?
• So, she turns back.
• But, the mayor answers the door. His wife, Ilsa Hermann comes and stands next to him, looking again as if she's in pain.
• Liesel stammers. The mayor's wife gives her a very slight nod.
• After the door closes, Liesel smiles.