I always enjoy Cunningham's writing, and this is no exception, though it did seem like it was sort of a rough draft for 'The Hours.' ( )

Cunningham is a master with words. His prose is beautiful, his descriptions can be startling, his characters are full. "Flesh and Blood" had the unusual combination of being a book I didn't want to put down, and being a book I wanted to savor slowly. I read several segments two or three times, just for fun. I'll probably go back and re-read more.

It's not perfect. Cunningham's attempt to pull in every character's point of view left me wanting more of certain characters and less of others. I liked knowing Constantine's point of view as it related to his children and grandchildren, for example, but the details of his construction business and other relationships late in life could have been left out to make room for more details of the up-and-coming generations.

Certain pivotal events feel glossed over--it's hard to elaborate without giving away plot details. In one case, we know Event A is going to happen, then Event B completely overshadows A, and then we skip ahead to where A has already happened. The reactions of most of the characters to both events could be elaborated on more and yet, at that point Cunningham seems to be pretty much done with the book and ready to tie up loose ends.

And, OK, I didn't like the ending that much. The last chapter had the potential to be a nice moment, but it fell short. I didn't need a summary of the next 40 years in everyone's lives, I needed to maintain my connection to the character Cunningham chose to end with in order to care about that nice moment.

Or maybe I just needed him to stop sooner, and write the next 40 years into another gorgeous novel. ( )

One of my favorites of Cunningham's book. A must read for the Cunningham aficionado. ( )

this man just has a way with words ( )

An epic family drama, well written with engrossing characters. ( )