"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak
An wonderful (and uplifting though shattering book). I have just resurfaced on completion of this tale of a girl growing up in Germany during the war. The book is narrated by Death, and we are informed at the start (and reminded at points) of how this turns out. So that it is the journey that counts rather than the event. It is a journey beautifully and lovingly told - if somewhat sadly at times. The are - it being wartime - moments of great tragedy, but there are also sequences of humour and joy.

http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,1983080,00.html