Loss of a loved child,

grief and a family’s breakdown.

Lovely, longing tale. ( )

This book is incredible. It is difficult of fathom the depths of Mr. Brockmeier's mind. His writing is impeccible and his structure perfect. This is a very postmodern novel, characterized by the lack of conventional parameters. So many authors take advantage of this trend to put out "fad" novels that are shiny and eye-catching, but have little substance to back it up. Brockmeier actually uses his unconventional story within a story to bring the reader to a new reality of a grieving father who happens to be an author illustrating his own state of mind during the loss of his daughter. This book cannot be understood in the realm of the conventional "first this, then this" system because the reader is to understand that the book they are reading is penned by one of the characters in it, thus leading one to different conclusions than if it was structured otherwise. Brockmeier's lyrical and haunting prose flourishes in the context he has made for himself, laying bare the emotions of the characters (and the reader) in a way so rare to other books. This book is not to be forgotten. ( )