This one nearly felt as if it were written by two different authors. The portions of the book written in the past were beautifully written and stripped of any awkwardness. They were well-crafted and believable. The modern portions of the novel were something else. They seemed overly corny...too juvenile. The characters weren't as rich and the storyline was jolting rather than seamless. Thankfully, there was enough of the former to keep the book on track. I enjoyed the premise of the novel and very much found interest in the historical significance. It was a particular surprise to discover that a good portion of the book actually took place near where I currently live. This may have aided in increasing my tolerance with those portions that felt lackluster. Overall, I appreciate why the novel was written as it was, but still feel that the narrative would have been stronger with either full abandonment of the modern storyline or further development of the characters and plot in these pieces.