The Book Thief Suffering Quotes

These nightmares are bitter-sweet kind of suffering. They terrify her. She can't control them. But, they bring her just a little closer to her dead brother. A major turning point for Liesel is when she lets go of the nightmares and learns to carry Werner in her heart and memory.

This refers to the now abandoned and forlorn Jewish section of Molching. If Liesel had arrived in Molching sooner, she would have witnessed the suffering of its previous residents as they were abused and then forcibly removed from their homes.

Much of Max's psychological suffering involves guilt. As we note in the theme of "Criminality," Max can't take a non-criminal step, so long as he's in Germany. Plus, anyone who he makes contact with is an instant criminal. This takes an enormous toll on his psyche.