I love a great novel - the longer the better. I had no trouble getting into the story and finishing this almost 600 pg book in less than a week. One has such high hopes for the characters, especially Edgar and his mother. Maybe it's still the optimist in me that expected more in the ending of this novel. Even without the "shiny happy people" ending, you do expect some resolution to unanswered questions. But the author appears to have left his readers and his characters high and dry. Overall, engaging and riveting, despite the let down at the end.