This book is like a meditation on death and the transient reality of life. The writing is intelligent, meditative, philosophical and quiet. This is the kind of book I would read only if I had someone to talk to about it; that's why I read it for a book club but then I had a headache and didn't go. I enjoyed the descriptions of nature, but didn't care enough for the main character, she was so cerebral. Were her feelings about her mom and everything repressed because of the tragedies in her life? I guess I wanted more emotion.