I love this book and all of the characters within it. The Book Thief is a milestone book that has taken me to new heights in reading. For me it is such a intensely beautiful and moving book that there is no way of forgetting it. The characters, Liesel, Papa, Mama, Rudy, Max and the characters of Himmel Street are all developed in a way that one cannot help loving them. One cares so much about them that there is almost a need to suck in air as sinister events are about to affect their world. The language Markus Zusak uses transports you to an entirely new world.The beautiful thing about this book is that nothing is perfect. It's sticky and itchy and makes you want to scratch at something you can't see. I can't do justice to just how special and unique it is, I have never seen or experienced anything quite like it. Emotionally this book tears and screws your insides up. I moved from simply watching the characters develop, to being incredibly happy as their life unfolded. Next came anger and agitation, shock and tears. When the book ended I felt enlightened and truly inspired.