Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 3.7 / 5.0

A great read & a glimpse into the transforming power of art:

This is a beautifully written, very accessible novel peopled with interesting, well-crafted characters from many cultures brought together unexpectedly. On one level, the novel is a page turner -- much like the old English murder mysteries where someone is found dead in the drawing room and no one can leave. In this case, it's not a whodunit, but who will survive -- a more fitting question for our world today. On another level, it's a fabel about the transforming power of art and the inherent goodness of... more info

a beautiful fantasy:

Anyone who criticizes this book for not being "realistic" or that it doesn't have any action completely missed the point. This is a fantasy whose purpose seems to be to create a picture of what peace would look like...metaphorically. Instead of boring details about how the negotiations are going (which we hear about in the real world every five minutes on the news), Ann Patchett paints an imaginary picture of what might happen if people let their humanity, rather than their political agenda, dictate their... more info

Perfect pitch:

This is a beautifully-written novel, one in which the reader can empathize with all the main characters, "good" or "bad." Given the vast range of reviews here ("Fantastic!" "Boring"), it would seem that this book either hits you powerfully or totally misses its mark. For me, it worked. This book is full of so many wonderful small scenes and moments, sewn together in a beautiful tapestry, that I truly did not want the book to end. If you're looking for action, possibly pass this one by. If, however, you're... more info

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