four different versions of Archibald Fergusons life, from start to various finishes 
 small changes in events and circumstances have big impacts 
 yet some things remain the same 
 didn't feel the core point of how much of personality is nature or nurture based was explored 
 for me, common thread of literary reading lists, pretty-yet-not love interests, continuing to bash reader over the head with apparent depth or each young Archie's personalities through superficialities 
 just dragged as stories proceeded 
 was the only book brought on hols, so stuck with it to the 4 3 2 1 end