My respect for the Iowa Writer's Workshop has decreased considerably since I read on the author's blurb that they awarded Ms. Kenyon an MFA. This is a badly written book full of unlikely characters, and over-stuffed with some of the most awkward figures of speech I have ever encountered -- in forty years of reading.

Even the most villainous of characters or the noblest of heroes must seem in some way to be human -- and all humanity is lacking in the portrayal of Ms. Kenyon's characters. None of the characters seemed to be capable of rational introspection, coherent thought, or reasonable action.

This was an utterly pretentious, poorly written work that would have benefited enormously from stringent editing and a competent writing teacher. Instead, the book reads like it was written by a hyperactive crystal meth addict.

Don't waste your time with this one. ( )