A life-changing novel

I read this book for the first time in college and it changed my life. I studied it in at least three more of my classes and it never once got boring. This novel is a story of true human spirit and it shows the power of unconditional love, but also how truly horrible humanity can be. The book is a dichotomy of forces, love and hate, justice and unfairness, pity and anger. This book gave me hope in my own life and encouraged me to look for hope for those who have none and shows the true power of community through the strength in its characters. It is deeply disturbing in its graphic descriptions of what is done to the innocent and guilty in the story, but also incredibly uplifting as the characters come together to help each other and love one another. I sincerely believe that you cannot read this book without crying and it shows the truth of the human spirit. I always tell people that this book tells us how to love unconditionally, even when people don't seem to deserve it and how to give second chances to those who haven't earned them. This book will change your life.