My daughter read this book and sent her copy to me stating that she wasn't sure I'd like it much but it passed the time for her while she rode the subway to work. Wow, what a chore it was to get through it! The characters were not well developed, the plot ordinary, and the story slow and boring. I was not surprised that it did not hold my interest as it is one of Oprah's and I have been very disappointed in the other two I've read, Stone's From the River and Songs in Ordinary Time. Skip this one!