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Nov 16, 2016BostonPL_LauraB rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would certainly read more from Jane Smiley because her writing is very good. To be honest though, this novel lost me a bit in the last quarter, and I don't think it was just because I read another book in between the first bit and the last bit. I didn't understand many of the characters motivations for their behaviors and the timeline just sped up too fast. Very interested to read more set in Iowa though (this was set very near my hometown, Mason City), as she really captured the scenery and essence of the people quite well. I will say though to people not familiar with the agricultural Midwest, that a typical family is not filled with so much sexual assault, adultery, and murder - yikes.