Why. Why why why. 
 I chose this book 1) because it has been sitting on my shelf for years. 2) I had started it a long time ago, and never really "got into it" and I've heard repeatedly how amazing it is, and 3) I was traveling to Gettysburg, PA with my family and wanted to read something based in the Civil War Era. 
 The beginning was a bit slow for me (again) but it picked up and never really stopped. I loved the characters that Inman met on his travels, and I loved the development of Ada (as well as her relationship with Ruby and her land). 
 That ending though. No. 
 I can't. I was and still am emotionally compromised. That ending was so abrupt and so.......sad. 
 I highly recommend this to lovers of historical fiction, specifically American historical fiction as well as people who don't require "happy" endings in everything they read.