Title: great theme but unfortunate attempt
Product review: This book was painful to read. Although the writing was at times quite wonderful - clear images and interesting situations - its myriad characters, strange interactions and weak and often byzantine plot made this a real chore. All of it seemed very forced and contrived. I had to read it for a book group - otherwise I would have never finished it. On a more positive note, the author can 'write' but seems to need more clarity in her views and in what she really wants to say to the reader. I am not sure she knows exactly what she wants to say herself otherwise this massive and heroic attempt to write 'the great novel' would have been less tragic.
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