The hardest thing to do

by Penelope Wilcock

Paper Book, 2011

Status

Available

Series

The Hawk and the Dove (4)

Genres

Publication

Wheaton, Ill. : Crossway, 2011.

Description

This story starts one year after the end of the third book, in the early fourteenth century. The monastery of St Alcuin's is settling down and adjusting to its new abbot, who is taking the place of Father Peregrine, when an old enemy, Prior William, arrives seeking refuge. Reluctantly taking in the man who so ill-treated their much loved former leader, the upended community must address old fears and bitterness while warily seeking reconciliation. But will William the refugee spread poison, or receive healing? In her fourth book in the series, Penelope Wilcock wrestles with the difficulties of forgiveness and the cautions of building trust. What is truly the hardest thing to do?

Media reviews

The Book

I had not heard of or read the previous books in the Hawk and Dove series. It did not take long to figure out what was going on and allow myself to be swept away into the life of monks in a 14th Century. I found myself pleasantly surprised. The characters quickly became real and the overall plot

and tone was very sweet and heartwarming.

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User reviews

LibraryThing member katylit

Newly appointed Abbot John takes a slow, arduous journey back to his monastery from training to be Abbot. His brother monks prepare for his arrival with joyful anticipation. But shortly after Abbot John settles in, an old enemy from another monastery arrives, requesting sanctuary. The harmonious

atmosphere of Father John's monastery is in jeopardy and all the monks struggle with personal feelings versus Christian duty.

I enjoy reading about monastic life and I found that [The Hardest Thing to Do] does illustrate the medieval religious community in a pleasant, simple manner. But I had just finished another book, an historical mystery, [A Trail of Ink] prior to reading Wilcock's book and I couldn't help but compare the two on occasion. Abbot John and all the characters in [The Hardest Thing] used modern language and I found this a bit jarring and took away from the medieval atmosphere. Whilst [A Trail of Ink] used phrasing and dialogue that drew the reader into the historical setting. I realize that [The Hardest Thing] is a Christian book, hence the focus was more on the teachings of Christ than an historical depiction of a monastery. Keeping this in mind helped me to enjoy the book more than if I'd read it with a critical eye towards historical accuracy.

While Wilcock does present an undoubtable Christian book, it didn't come across as too preachy or "religious" to me. The story is about men who struggle with acceptance, patience, forebearance...things we all struggle with, Christian or not.

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LibraryThing member Lisapee2003

The Hardest Thing to Do is the first, but not the last book in this series I have read. Every once in awhile I have come across fiction books which touched my life and left me different. This has definitely been one of those books. I have been challenged anew to reconsider my own attitude about

those around me, especially those who are hard to love. I could almost place myself at St. Alcuin's Abbey, as one of the Brother's there (eventhough I am a woman). I was with them going through the emotions and judgements that arise when faced with the difficult decision of whether or not to forgive and accept someone who has made poor choices and refuses to see things as you do.

I found the format of a daily journal easy to follow and I appreciated that I could pick it up and read a brief portion at a time. This was a quick and easy read, but offered me lots of food for thought.

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LibraryThing member smithwil

'The Hardest Thing to Do' by Penelope Wilcock is the latest in her "The Hawk and the Dove" series. The first of three sequels to The Hawk and the Dove trilogy takes place one year after the end of the third book, in the early fourteenth century. The book wrestles with the difficulties of

forgiveness and the cautions of building trust.

Being new to the series, I was a bit taken aback at first by the highly detailed language of the activities at the abbey that is the site of the story. The writing, however, is excellent and once overcoming this one stumbling block, the story reads very well.

The description said the story came in 'the form of journal entries' which originally attracted my attention, as I want to write a story or two in that form, myself. However, I did not find that assertion to be obvious; at least not in a useful way.

I am certain that fans of Wilcock and her series will be pleased with this book. It is simply not something I would normally read, so I will go with 3 stars.

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LibraryThing member lesliecaldarera

Fourth in the "Hawk and the Dove" series by Penelope Wilcock, The Hardest Thing to Do tells an enlightening story of life in a 14th century monastery. The monks at St. Alcuin's abbey lead a peaceful life and are welcoming one of their brothers as a the new abbot,all is well until a monk from a

neighboring monastery seeks refuge with them. Unfortunately, he brings a a lot of baggage in the form of a dark reputation as the leader of a hated monastery burned to the ground by villagers. St. Alcuin's monks find the "hardest thing to do" comes in many forms, but the most difficult, is to forgive and trust another person to change.

Not having read the first three books in this series I was afraid I wouldn't be able to follow the plot in this novel, but quickly found that not to be the case; it easily stands on its own. However for those new to The Hawk and the Dove the author includes a reference to all the characters, a glossary and a liturgical calendar. Wilcox writes clearly, knowledgeably and passionately about monastery life. She illuminates the close knit community of the monks without falling into a pedantic, preachy tone. The parts I most enjoyed were her descriptions of each monk's joy and appreciation of his individual tasks and how each one is important to the success of the whole.

Lovers of historical fiction or Christian narratives will enjoy this novel for it's in depth picture of monastic life in the medieval world.

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LibraryThing member SJWolfe

I found this book to be surprisingly interesting in spite of the fact I had not read the trilogy which preceded it. The historiography seemed to be good, and the characters were engaging, well delineated and very human. The story is about a monastic house which is thrown into turmoil from two

sides--a new abbot who is yet unsure of his station,and an old enemy who arrives to seek sanctuary from the very people he has hurt the most. The tale is simplistic in a way but teaches a valuable lesson in life, the lesson of forgiveness. This is a good, uplifting read for anyone who has ever found themselves in an uncomfortable situation which seems untenable until circumstances change not only the situation but also one's outlook upon it.

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LibraryThing member SwordofaReader

Having read the Hawk and the Dove Trilogy many times, I was curious to see where this book would pick up. The story begins a year after the third book and it's the beginning of lent. The story bounces between the new abbot on his way to the abbey and the monks in the abbey awaiting the abbot. The

characters are older, some have passed on, and some are new to the community. When the abbot arrives, the community is overjoyed at finally having their abbot back and the abbot is glad to be back. However, the community is shaken by the arrival of an old foe seeking forgiveness and shelter.

The book was a beautiful story of forgiveness and redemption and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Wilcock kept the feeling of the other three books and I enjoyed catching up with all of my old friends and meeting new ones. I would recommend reading the first three, but it isn't necessary. However, reading the first three allows you to meet some of the characters referenced in this book. I give this book a 5 stars out of 5 star rating and would recommend this to anyone from 10 to 99!

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LibraryThing member scotlass66

At first glance I wasn't sure I'd like this; it seemed too "religious" for me; but I'm glad I stuck with it. It well-written and the themes certainly have meaning in today's world, even though it takes place in a 14th century monastery. It was easy to empathize with several of the characters as

they faced a major (and some minor) decisions during the course of the book, which takes place during Lent. Each chapter is one day, leading up to Easter.
I have not read any of the Hawk and Dove trilogy, but plan to look for them now.

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LibraryThing member dichotomy

This book was quite a departure from my usual reading choices, but I'm glad I got the chance to read it. I was a bit concerned when I saw the Bible quotes in the front that it would be preachy, and it is a bit, but in a loving and gentle way, so I did not mind. It is nice every once in a while to

read a book about a group of men who, for the most part, love and respect one another, rather than making war. Because I have not read the first three books, I don't know the background of the conflict between St. Alcuin's and St. Dunstan's, but I feel like I was able to get a good enough sense of it to understand the story.

The things I liked best about this book:
-Descriptions of each monk's roles within the abbey, and the real sense of it as a community working together in harmony.
-The way the monks use their religion to find grace and beauty in each other, their work, the land, and even their rivals.
-The complex, interesting characters of John, William, and Thomas.
-The gradual change of the season in parallel to the changes taking place in the abbey.

This book was an appropriately (for its setting) slow-paced, contemplative story, providing a welcome contrast to the thickly-plotted suspenseful fare I normally read.

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LibraryThing member The_Bec

When I received this novel in the mail after winning it through LibraryThing's early reviewer's program, I was a bit worried. I knew that this book was going to be heavily based on religion, which didn't bother me, of course, but I was worried that it would be lacking depth and understanding.

I was

very surprised when I started to get into the plot of the novel. The characters, although many, started to develop, and the story-line started to fit among a lot of similar novels in literature, only it was done differently.

The story follows a group of monks, settled in their lives, and beginning lent with a new abbot. All seems to be going according to plan, and, honestly, in an abbey, what else really can go amiss?
Then, a prior comes to their door, knocking, searching for hope and charity.

Only this prior is from another abbey, an abbey now infamous as the home of scoundrels and sinners. Needless to say, he is not welcome.

However, through the course of the novel, forgiveness is given, even when none thought it possible.

My only complaint is the author sometimes lost her grip with the 14th century language, but it wasn't anything that tripped me up.

A beautiful, masterful story, made so with the classic act of forgiveness shown under new light.

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LibraryThing member flutelaura

Wow! What can I say? This is one of the most powerful books I have ever read - could I afford a case of them, I would give them as gifts to everyone I know. Although the setting is fourth century England, the subject matter is timeless and one we all wrestle with from time to time - forgiveness.

Even though I was unfamiliar with monks, the author was able to help me get inside the minds of the characters in the book. Their problems became my problems and I was frequently thinking of some of my own hurts and how hard it was to forgive and give another chance. The monks are endearing and loveable and very human, I often found myself chuckling at their personalities. The author uses the Lenten season to drive the story - it‘s the perfect framework for a tale that will resonate with all of us who have been hurt by the cruel acts of another and need to be healed by the Master of Redemption.

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LibraryThing member SheilaCornelisse

A thought-provoking tale of community, self-discovery, christianity, and forgiveness. Penelope Wilcock takes the reader back to a 14th-Century monastery and provides a very personal look into the lives and beliefs of the Benedictine monks of St. Alcuin Abbey. Of particular interest are Father John

who has just been made Abbot of St. Alcuin and is struggling with his insecurities; Brother Tom who is holding a grudge and is very opinionated; Father Theodore who instructs the novices as well as being looked to for sound advice; and finally, Prior William, a much despised Augustinian monk from St. Dunstan's Abbey, who finds himself alone, homeless and beaten after his abbey has been destroyed by fire.
Set over the period of Lent, the story unfolds a day-by-day account of the monks coming to terms with their own weaknesses (their personal hardest things to do), their conflicting feelings toward Prior William who has shown up at their doorstep begging acceptance into their brotherhood, and the battle between mercy and justice.
Not to say that life at the abbey is all dark and serious, the author also uses humour to lighten up the mood and provide a chuckle or two.
If there was anything that I didn't like about this book, it would be what I felt was an overuse of Latin. I understand that this was the language of the time for mass and prayer, but for me it obstructed the flow of the story when I had to stop and either attempt to figure out the words or just skip over those parts. Also, I didn't get a true feeling that it was set in the 14th century.
On the whole, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the monks of St. Alcuin and am now delving into "The Hawk and the Dove" trilogy that first introduced these characters.

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LibraryThing member charitysuzanne

If you enjoyed the Hawk and the Dove trilogy, you'll enjoy this book as well. While at first I had trouble identifying with the characters, I started to enjoy it more as I got into the story. Contrary to my initial expectations, the book didn't deal out trite, easy answers on the topic of

forgiveness, but offered a thoughtful perspective wrapped up in a pretty good story. It was also interesting to hear one of the stories from the original trilogy from the perspective of the antagonist -- not something that one is usually able to see!

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LibraryThing member juniperSun

A truly inspriational book--which should not be relegated to classification with other "Inspirational Novels" where it will only be read by soi-disant christains. This is inspirational in the sense that it has moved me to reflect on my actions/attitudes and how they influence others.
Cloaked in the

guise of a novel set in the 1300's, this book models a way of relating which we can all benefit from in our current "hard times". Wilcock's characters learn a lesson we would all do well to learn: when we choose to act selfishly, agaiinst our inner voice of rightness, a dissonance is set in motion which leads to resentment, hate, and fear. Day by day, through the monks' interactions, discussions, and introspection, we are shown how an attitude of serenity and open-heartedness gives comfort to others in its presence. "Peace is not merely a precious thing--it's absolutely basic...everything begins to destabilize if we are not rooted in peace." (p.125)
The design of a book is usually something I'm not aware of, but I found myself appreciatiing the scripted capital beginning each chapter--somewhat reminiscent of illuminated manuscripts these monks would have worked on (tho this is certainly in a much simpler style)
I have not read the earlier books in the series, but look forward to them while doubting they could possibly be as pertinant to our war-filled times as this one is.

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LibraryThing member roydknight

Tbis was this reviewer's first book by Penelope Wilcock. And having not read the previous trilogy, I found this book to be an easy read with an even and complete background of each of the characters, of which there are many! Set in a 14th century monastery (St. Alcuin), the plot develops along the

lines of a "what would Jesus do?" ethical dilemma. An ostracized and hated abbot from a neighboring monastery shows up following a fire at his own abbey and seeks refuge by desiring to join the St. Alcuin community. He is met with every possible human emotion and reaction: hatred, suspicion, apathy, etc.

The newly appointed abbot of the St. Alcuin community struggles to bring acceptance to this malefactor. But can he be trusted? Is there an ulterior motive? Can forgiveness overcome bitterness? Each character having his own vocation within the community manages to share what the hardest thing for them is within the monastery. At this level, the author gives both an educational and entertaining look inside a monastic community.

At the other level is the age old question of forgiveness. Is this not the hardest thing to do? I highly recommend this book and have already been looking for the original trilogy by this knowledgeable author.

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LibraryThing member longrunner

The Hardest Thing To Do, is the first of three sequels to The Hawk and The Dove trilogy, published by Crossway.

The title of this book was very accurate as far as I was concerned. It arrived in the mail at the worst possible time: I was facing a comprehensive summer school Psychology final in just a

few days. It was a major temptation to forgo studying altogether and retreat to a fourteenth century English monastery.

Novels do not generally tempt me. The vast majority of my home library is non-fiction. I don't mean to be boring: I just am. However, if any of you take books by Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen on vacation, or read The Rule of St. Benedict because you are intrigued by church history, you know exactly what I mean. I am irresistibly drawn to the contemplative life.

Modern Christianity both baffles and mystifies me because it seems that at times we have traded the snapshots of community which we see in the New Testament for a business model from Forbes. In our desire to go wide and be successful, we have often, not always, but often, sacrificed going deep. The disciplines of a healthy spiritual life are foreign ideas that we yearn to try on for size. Living in community is something about which we only dream.

St. Alcuin's Abbey has both a business side and a spiritual side to maintain in order to survive. Penelope Wilcock manages to show the trials and triumphs, the conflicts and complications of making that work while weaving a tale about a man called to lead and protect the lives committed to his care. It is not enough to have the weight of the daily care of his imperfect flock; he also has to deal with an unwelcome and unworthy former Christian leader seeking refuge.

Penelope Wilcock did an exceptional job on portraying monastic life and the stress of Christian leadership. She graciously included a Glossary of Terms and schedules which explain the typical Monastic Day and the Liturgical Calendar for the novitiates among us.

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LibraryThing member skfurlotte

I am usually not a fan of literature with religious themes, but I vey much enjoyed this book. I gained great insight into the life of monks in a 14th Century monastery. The story was crisp and the characters well drawn. The concept of forgiveness in this setting came across clearly in a lovely

story.

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LibraryThing member haleyo

At first I was quite wary of reading this book as it is the fourth in the Hawk and the Dove series and I have read none of the previous books. However, this novel can most definitely stand alone and be read without previous familiarity with the series. My largest drawback was that I had a bit of a

hard time getting into the book at the start. One of the most interesting parts of the book was its description of and attention to the details of the monastic lifestyle. The author has done her homework in this regard.

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LibraryThing member alphafem

I got this book at the best time -- just before I went to the cottage. I spent a lovely two days with this book, becoming very well acquainted with the monks of the abbey and following them through the tortured decision that really was 'the hardest thing to do.' I was a bit hesitant at first,

realizing this book was the follow up to an earlier trilogy, but enough of a background was provided that I didn't feel lost and indeed I am now interested in finding the earlier three books and reading them! The prose is simple, but powerful, and even though the cast seems a bit daunting at first, Ms Wilcock does an admirable job of providing characterizations that are straight forward and memorable. This is a book I probably would never have discovered on my own, so thank you Early Readers!

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LibraryThing member bgknighton

A very nice little book! I am so glad to have gotten it through the early readers program! This is a book about how people get along. The monastery setting gives it a very intimate feel and you get to feel very close to the characters. The themes of forgiveness and trust are relevant to eveyone. It

is religious without being overbearing, everyone should be able to enjoy the book for itself. I have to go find the rest of the books, now......

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LibraryThing member aethercowboy

The Hardest Thing to Do is the fourth book in Penelope Wilcock’s Hawk and Dove series. These books chronicle the events in a Benedictine monastery, and follow the monks who live their during their eventful lives.

In this fourth volume, the titular abbot (called both Peregrine and Columbe, meaning

“hawk” and “dove” respectively) has passed away, and the new abbot, former infirmarian, John, is appointed as new abbot, and officialy receives his appointment around Ash Wednesday.

The book takes place during the entire Lenten season, and shows the monastery preparing for the Easter. But, like many stories that wish to present a somewhat interesting tale, all is not self-denial and introspection, as things are soon shaken up by the entry of a monk from a different monastery, this monk, and his brethren, not only known for being unfair and ungodly to the people in their village, but also known for having mistreated the beloved Father Columbe some time in the past. This monk, William, turned up because the people revolted and burned his monastery down.

The Benedictines, under the guidance of the newly minted Abbot John, must decide if this wayward and now homeless monk may find a new home and new brothers in this new abbey, but some of the brothers hold grudges that supersede not only reason, but also basic compassion.

I found this book to be readable, and found that very little required me to be familiar with the story. The characters talk of other characters in a way that feels realistic, but also gives you a glimpse of the character behind that name. One thing though that may require having read the previous books is the encounter between Columbe and William, and why it was so terrible so as people would hold such grudges. That part felt the weakest without a foundation of the previous works to fall back on.

My biggest complaint however, is the abundance of the title throughout the work. You would imagine the “hardest thing to do” would be the incorporation of a former adversary into your close-knit religious order, however, in almost every single chapter, this, that, or the other thing is the “hardest thing to do.” The hardest thing for me to do was to not get irritated every time I read this.

From a religious perspective, this book, being obviously founded in Catholicism, does not seem pushy of the views of this branch of Christianity (beyond the asceticism of monks and all that that entails), and does not particularly push Christianity either (beyond, of course, the fact that it takes place pretty much entirely inside a religious institute). To someone who fundamentally disagreed with either Catholicism or Christianity, the book does present some positive lessons that map out as well to Christian behavior as it does to secular behavior.

While this book is not a masterpiece, it is not an arduous undertaking either, and may be enjoyable or useful to someone looking for a relatively non-offensive read.

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LibraryThing member jeremiahstover

A slow even sedate read - easy to put down and pick up at a later date. This is a work that considers peoples interactions with one another in a closed ecosystem. Not an overly active title it instead provides one with the opportunity to ponder what motivates us, and what areas do we need to work

on in our dealings with our neighbors.

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LibraryThing member NovelEagle

I don’t know why I chose The Hardest Thing to Do by Penelope Wilcock from the June 2011 Early Reviewer’s list on Library Thing. The book’s arrival in my mailbox was a bit of a shock.

The Hardest Thing to Do is so far from my normal reading patterns that I assumed at first glance that it would

be torture for me to read and review it. How wrong I was.

Even though there is not a single female of note in the book, I found myself drawn into the story to a remarkable degree.

I write women’s history. What was I doing reading a book with no women and about monks no less so nothing salacious. Not a single sensual hint throughout and yet the writing and the characters kept my eyes glued to the pages from start to finish. Luckily for me The Hardest Thing to Do by Penelope Wilcock is not a long book. It’s a thin book without noticeable flaw. May I say congratulations for the outstanding editing?

The Hardest Thing to Do is the fourth book in Penelope Wilcock’s Hawk and Dove series. These books chronicle the events in a Benedictine monastery, and follow the monks who live their during their eventful lives.
In this fourth volume, the titular abbot (called both Peregrine and Columbe, meaning “hawk” and “dove” respectively) has passed away, and the former infirmarian, John, is away finishing the necessary training to become the new abbot, leaving the monastery in the hands of a temporary leader.

The Hardest Thing to Do takes place during Lent and shows the drastic deprivations the monks endure while preparing for the Easter when the gentle quiet of their lives will be interrupted by an influx of visitors, especially patrons upon whom the monks depend for their meager livelihood.

Enter into the tale of self-denial and introspection, a refugee from a burned out Augustinian monastery noted for its gross mistreatment of the people in their village, [many suspect arson] but also known for having mistreated their now diseased but still much beloved Father Columbe some time in the past.

Into this quagmire of discontent comes the newly minted Benedictine Abbot John, who must decide if this wayward and now homeless monk may find a new home and new brothers in this new abbey after having been turned away by everyone he sought refuse with in his long journey. But despite the prayerful requirements of this sacred period between Ash Wednesday and Holy Easter, some of the brothers being human hold grudges that supersede not only reason, but also basic compassion.

The characters talk of other characters in a way that feels realistic, but also gives you a glimpse of the character behind that name. William, Their uninvited Augustinian guest holds and entirely different memory his encounter with Columbe and can’t understand why the Benedictines consider it so terrible they would hold such grudges against him. To him the encounter had been a friendly debate to make a point to a third party. Rather than seeing their point of view that he had humiliated their beloved abbot, he considered Columbe the winner of the debate and was himself quite fond of the old abbot for having bested him. Overall, The Hardest Thing to Do was to put aside rash judgements and learn to forgive; to be more Christ like in their inner lives.

Not being a Catholic myself, I can’t critique The Hardest Thing to Do from a sectarian perspective but I found many of the monks sorely lacking in Christian charity although the book was enjoyable and as mentioned earlier virtual;ly free of errors which I as a novelist consider to be a remarkable accomplishment.

The Hardest Thing to Do provides an interesting look into monastic life and may prove useful to someone looking for a relatively inoffensive read.

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LibraryThing member mnleona

The Hardest Thing to Do by Penelope Wilcox
This book is the fourth in a series about a 14 Century Monastery and the lives of the monks that lived there. This is the first of the series I have read but did not take long to know the characters. When Father Peregrime was described in the early part of

the book, my mind pictured the High Lama in Lost Horizons, portrayed by Sam Jaffe. The author has the names of the characters in the front of the book and their positions at the Abby; this helps connect the characters. She also has a glossary of terms and a Liturgical Calendar in the Catholic Church's year. This book dates the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. The preparation of Easter and the food and sacrifice one does during Lent walks the reader through some of the requirements of Lent. Food was a major factor and I loved the descriptions of the types of foods and herbs.
Brother John now is the new abbot and is now called Father John or Abbot John. The old abbot, Father Peregrine died and John in now in charge and working at preparing himself to serve as he feels an abbot should serve God and run the Abby at St. Alcuin.
There is a monk from an Augustinian religious order that has come to St. Alcuin for refuge. He is Prior William from a nearby monastery, which had burned down; a place that was more evil than good (as I read into the story) and a problem to the St Alcuin Abby; not all the monks welcome him and he becomes a big factor in the story. One monk uses the word "hate" for his feeling for Prior William. The book has emotion and feelings that brought me, as the reader, into the book.
There are so many human factors in this book such as forgiveness, hate, love, compassion, work, family, death, sin and Church; it keeps the reader interested in the story and the men at the Abby. I appreciated the Latin because it is no longer used in Mass and I for one, miss that. I would have never called a Priest by his first name, taught to us at an early age, and this was new to me to read. I found the book easy to read and a page turner for me. Not too much religion but enough for any faith to read. This would be a good book club choice.
I found what I personally think the Hardest Thing to do was but I will let the reader determine what they feel is the Hardest Thing to Do would be for them.
I received a complimentary copy of The Hardest Thing to Do from Net Galley to read and review. The opinions are my own.
I wish to thank the author, Penelope Wilcox for the opportunity to read and review The Hardest Thing to Do.
Leona Olson
mnleona.blogspot.com

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LibraryThing member borneogirl

I enjoyed this book because I love historically based novels. While I haven't read the trilogy that precedes this book, the characters are realistic and the setting well researched. A new Abbott is coming to Alcuin's and the brothers are preparing for his arrival while continuing their lives of

service. The life is difficult and there aren't any luxuries, but as the brothers tell the story, the reader is drawn into life in the monastery. There are blessings in the life of service as well as hardships. The monks set an example the can be used in everyday life now as insight on how to deal with struggles and triumphs that life deals. A good book to read and give as a gift to many different kinds of people.

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LibraryThing member JanicsEblen

This book is so very well written. The 14th Century details are all there and well done. I did not find this a quick read. The diary form of writing makes it easy to lay the book down and come back to it - but for me it was not a compelling read. In general I enjoyed the book and found it

thoughful. I don't think I will read the other books by this Author. The story just did not hold my interest. But that doesn't mean I don't recognize the Authors skills.

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