Ms Julavits should have, at least, visited Colorado prior to writing this novel. I am a native of Colorado Springs and found the description of that area very objectionable. Her description of Pueblo was even worse. Perhaps had I not been from this area I may have found the book to be a fair read--but perhaps not. The characters just weren't believable. I purchased the book because I wanted to read a book about the history of Pueblo. I knew it was a novel, but the majority of (good) historical novels have some basis in reality. I was very disappointed that this one did not.