I think apart from one or two characters, everyone in this book was nice. Loads and loads of really nice characters getting along together. Even the nasty ones had a nice side. In such a book I would have expected little tension and few reasons to read to the end, but that’s not the case. After a slowish start, this really builds momentum, and became unputdownable. One of the most graphic accounts of the Vietnam War experience I have read, and a whodunit that would be hard to guess. It was like climbing down a worm-hole right back to the 1960s. A really great read. ( )

This was an amazing book. The story takes place in rural Arkansas in 1969 which is so fascinating in of itself. These characters are so real and off beat. It was a quirky story with a mystery and had such depth. This definitely goes down as my topp 3 favorite books of all time. I jhave been dying for NOrris Church Mailer to write another one and apparently she has! I can't ewait for the next one in August 07'. ( )