David Beller

This is a brilliant debut novel that speaks to the pain that neglected children suffer. It immerses you in their misery, confusion and anger. The metaphor and simile created by the author are dramatic and creative, and showcase what great writing can be. It is not an easy book to read, often confusing on first read, often painful, but it is worth giving the effort.

The book is long and a bit confusing at first, as it weaves together (seemingly) disparate tales splayed out over two millennia. But, as it develops and you start to see the texture and design unfolding, it is nothing less than captivating. It is a brilliant work of art, wonderfully written (just consider the subtlety and musicality of the alliteration), about suffering, man's ruthlessness and social autocracy, and the power of story telling to instruct and heal. Truly a masterpiece of storytelling, like the "Overstory." I miss the characters already.