Janice Ham

An unremitting agony of a life wasted for love. The structure of the novel makes it clear to the reader that there is no relief for Shuggie's multiple layers of problems. The excellent writing creates a totally absorbing, authentic reality, into which you are inevitably drawn.

A jigsaw puzzle of a structure which actually works. The merging of pieces of fact and fiction and the motif of migrating birds come together to give an agonising picture of personal tragedy and the complexity of the Palestinian/Israeli enmity. No-one wins - but the small lights of hope shine throughout. Definitely worth reading.