ok, really, i can't say too much about this novel anyway because one of the beautiful things about the story is how all the little details unfold slowly, teasing you into the lives of the characters so that you never want to let them go. it's a brilliant work of fiction. the brief above is probably the only thing that i can say without giving too much away. i did love this book and didn't want it to end. it was a great way to end the year on a high literary note!