Hi,I am reading  The Book Thief. I have questions about several sentences in this novel. Could you help me understand them？Thanks for any replies.

1.I‘m nothing if not fair.

   This is what the Death says about himself in the beginning of The Book Thief. I can’t understand the meaning of “if not fair”. Does it mean that someone‘s remarks are roughly correct if not accurate？

2.Who could step in while I take a break in your stock-standard resort-style vacation destination，whether it be tropical or of the ski trip variety？

   First，I can't understand the meaning of “stock-standard”. Second，the clause “whether it be tropical or of the ski trip variety” confused me. Is it correct to use be here？

3.The horizon was beginning to charcoal. What was left of the blackness above was nothing now but a scribble， and disappearing fast.

   I’m confused and I can't imagine the picture these words are trying to describe. Why can charcoal be after “begin to”？ It is a noun，isn't it？

4.The sky was now a devastating，home-cooked red.

   Why use home-cooked to modify red？ What color is it？