I had heard so much about John Irvings work, that I couldn't wait to start this book. I valiantly struggled to finish it, but gave up before reaching the halfway point. The tedious style of writing did nothing to enliven the characters.I found I was becoming irritated when Ruth, as a child, asked the same questions incessantly. I also couldn't see how diverging into every minor character's mundaneness was central to the theme of the story. Maybe you just have to be a fan, but my advice--skip it!