I don't think such a book fits Java beginners. This one MUST be read in two cases :
1 - You're preparing for the SCJP exam (You'll find every single detail included in the exam there)
2 - You want to know exactly how java works. I mean by "exactly" every single detail about all the basic things : literals, extending, implementing, exceptions, serialization, overriding, autoboxing and autounboxing.. You know, all the cases you would meet while you code, all the combinations. And I didn't see any other book with such fineness.
Besides, Kathy Sierra make it funny to get all that, and that's what made the book a success.