The main characters could use some fleshing out. The mother was hard to believe. Loss of a child is traumatic, but this woman, who seems to be a one dimensional person, copes by seeking outlets such as speed, alcohol and promiscuity, leaving her son to flounder at times.
The father is interesting, but only at the end does one find that even his last name has been erased from his life. He tries to cope through photography and becomes quite a photographer of life,but has a hard time living life.
The nurse is the best character in the book. She becomes a more well rounded person in the book as she seeks for inclusion of Phoebe, the Down's Syndrome daughter, in school and community.

I would recommend this book. The history of the traveling circus gives one a picture of a bygone era. The nursing home scenes are most realistic and show how old age depersonalizes one.

This book deals with grief in a realistic manner. Also depicts how secrets kept tear away at relationships. Knitting is the bond or thread that woven through the story brings redemption to all the characters.

A tale spanning four generations that shows how we are all impacted by events that we did not even know had happened. Fractured family comes together in the great-granddaughter as she learns of her grandmother's secrets and discovers the story behind the secrets. Well written and keeps one interested. The author did an awesome job of tying up all the loose ends.

The story of a World War I German soldier who immigrates to America and settles in North Dakota where he opens a butcher shop. The small town is people by different characters that keep the story interesting. There is the mystery of the family found dead in a basement, the mystery of the origins of Delphine. And in the midst of this is Fidelius, the master butcher and his family, and his wife Eve and their four sons.

I learned so much about Lincoln in this book. Our group took two months for this read, I would add another month as it is an in depth book. I have a lot more respect for Lincoln and how he actually changed the world with his vision of one nation. Powerful read. The people he chose for his cabinet, many his rivals, was ingenious. I keep thinking how different our country would be today as far as race relations go if Lincoln had been able to bring his expertise into the effects of emancipation.

This story of one Cardinal who has overcome a violent abusive past to become one of the most balanced Cardinals in contention for becoming Pope. However, as he is going through his own spiritual questioning, the Church itself is going through the changing of the guard. Very timely book. And gave me great insight into the politics of the Vatican.