How is it that a really excellent writer like Jane Smiley who can create numerous interesting characters can write such an incredibly boring book? I read all 417 pages, hoping against hope that it would not turn out to be as I feared, "all wind up and no pitch." But indeed, that is exactly what it was. So many details... Oh, my God. Did I care on page 379 that Joe ate a ham sandwich and tomato soup for dinner? No.Some really good scenes. Way too much descriptive sex. Repetitious drives to the same old places.Don't bother.