How do I even begin to describe this book? I love it so much. I love Markus Zusak's writing style. This book, if I had to describe it in one word, is charming. The writing is charming, the characters are charming, the story is charming. The book is charming. This book is the kind that you just can't rush through. I admit, sometimes I start skimming through books. I tried to do it with this book. Big mistake. First, what was I thinking trying to skim parts of this? No. This book requires you to take your time and read it at the book's pace. You can't rush it. You have to read each and every word because every single word is important. But you will enjoy it immensely. The characters truly shine in this story. No matter how unlikable they are (or seem to be). I loved every. single. one. My favorites just might be Rudy and Ilsa(a.k.a the mayor's wife). Near the end of the book I started bawling. I was crying so hard. And I loved it. I loved that this book evoked that emotion out of me. In fact, I was so overwhelmed that I just had to put the book down and cry. I had to stop reading, put my head down, and just cry. I would then compose myself and start again - only to read the next sentence or two and just burst out in tears again. Part of it because the sentence made me cry. And part of it because I was still overwhelmed and the sentence pushed me over the edge (so to speak) again. This is a book that will make me reel. I'll need days to recover from this book.