Not exactly what one would call an uplifting experience. I read this just before the film came out in the cinema. The one thing I clung to was that the boy, who is never named - if I recall correctly - somehow manages to maintain his innocent humanity for everyone. He makes the book bearable, and I think that is possibly the point of his story. 
 The film does a great job of translating from page to screen, so I'd recommend that too. 
 I would recommend reading something cheery and uplifting afterwards, though!