My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Enjoyed reading this book. Admittedly, its not the easiest of reads, it took awhile for me to get used to the writing style of the author, but I think that style helps contribute to the book's worth - it is very thought provoking. Through its simple story of two girls growing up in tiny town out west, with a huge lake and a railroad going by, and their tragic and unorthodox raising due to certain deaths in their family. Thus, the book makes one think about one's relationships with family members, and most significantly, what constitutes the idea of "home." I think this fundamental question drives the book, but it is by no means the only question the book brings to the forefront on the reader. As I was reading, I found myself thinking about the struggle that can exist between a society's draw on an individual to conform and a soul's draw on the individual to be authentic - and if and how that could be reconciled; reflecting on how tragedy and despair can have such disparate impacts on individuals who appear so close, so similar; as well as the benefit and harm that can be caused by attachment to not only certain things, but to certain people, and certain ideas.
Its not an overly long book, but it does take a bit to work through and digest everything that is going on with the story, the characters, as well as one's own reflections to its themes. A great book for discussion, and a worthy read.
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