Amazing story, but amazingly bleak. The fact that the author described the characters' suffering so well that the story haunted me when I wasn't reading it was wonderfully skillful, but made the reading experience quite painful. I can't fault her for that, but I don't think I could read this book again. (I also don't think I'll ever forget the image of the murder of poor Gaga the duck.) 
 I also thank Hillenbrand for not only reminding me that Japan was involved in World War II but also teaching me about the obscene, unbelievable atrocities they committed. I had no idea. I'm now a little bit appalled about my education of that war.