If you have read recently about poor, dysfunctional, abusive families not too long before considering reading this, then skip this one for now. Too much of such in a few months can be difficult to deal with. Well written but not a "happy" book.

Unlike any epic family saga I have read. Beautifully written, it lets you in on the feelings of the characters without telling you what it was, such as "Mary felt sad, etc." The character development is excellent. Rather than a description of activities, you hear from each character's own mouth and perspective. A page turner.