A very enjoyable read; from the first few pages, it was like putting on a cosy old sweater. Guterson did a great job of conjuring up the sights, smells and feel of a quiet and isolated misty island. I cared for most of the characters. Some of the metaphors were interesting: the storm, through the entire book, disturbing the lives of the islands inhabitants just as the winds of war disturbed the lives of Ishmael and Hatsue; Ishmael himself - one-armed - only half the man he used to be, both physically, and emotionally.