Trane Lover Brian 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Writing Reviewed in the United States ?? on November 18, 2022 Verified Purchase This is a sensational piece of storytelling. The pacing is terrific and the book just zooms along. It's one of those rare novels where you want to find the time to read it cover-to-cover without interruption. The atmospherics of early 20th century Brooklyn are superbly drawn and all the characters ring true and believable. A very HUMAN story with so many sensational parts to it that it is hard to pick a favorite section. Particularly gripping is the telling of a young girl's train journey when she is heading from New York to Chicago. The reader feels immersed in the entire experience from the young woman's perspective and the writing is extremely skillful here in this particular section. I honestly really prefer the "old classics" ala Dickens, James and Austen and I VERY rarely enjoy any of the "new" writers but Ms. McDermott is on a highly elevated plane. One is simply awestruck by her wonderful writing. I highly recommend this to anyone who adores great writing and the book is very appealing to both men and women readers. At the end of this wonderful book the reader will come away with a feeling of hope and anyone with a heart will fall in love with many of the characters in here. This book is a true rarity and a real gem. I simply loved it!!!! ASTONISHING!! GREAT!!!!