Utterly magnificent.

1. Unusual choice of narrator giving a previously unseen perspective into the death and destruction of WWII.

2. I loved every character from the moment I met them. They are richly realized, flawed, and wonderful.

3. Semi-linear plot structure -- you know early on what happens to each character at the end of the book (it's WWII in Germany, it wouldn't be too hard to guess anyway), and I spent every page stupidly hoping it would somehow be different.

4. I wept for 30 straight pages. These are people I loved and they deserved so much better than the brutality of war and genocide and fascism. I am alternately excited for and dreading the film. I am a notorious Movie Cryer... I anticipate rivers will flow.

5. As I wept one thought played on a loop in my head: why do we do this to each other?

6. This one is a keeper, to be read again and read to my children.