There were times I wanted to put this book down and not return to it. It gave me fitful sleep.Still, it is one of those books that will always stay with me and will change me and how I view the world.When I read effective books I try to analyze how the writer does it. Carol Anshaw is a tough nut to crack. She writes effortlessly, but her words, characters, and dialogue pack a punch. I honestly can't figure out how she does it, but she is without a doubt one of this century's great writers.Masterful. So real it hurts.