This novel left me conflicted. The writing is beautiful, and the study of Talmadge is thorough and complex. We meet the middle-aged loner when two pregnant teenagers steal some of his fruit at the market. He eventually develops tenuous care-taking relationship with the girls which provides the plot for the rest of the book. Coplin's prose focused on landscapes and emotions. The pace is slow, yet deliberate. There are questions I wish were answered, but I know they are deliberately left unanswered. Overall, a wonderful debut novel, and a must read!