This was just okay for me ... I really liked the beginning (we are a basketball family, so some connection there) but then it just dragged and got so tedious. Just depressing with little/no redemption or "ahhh" moments to make me like it. I was ready for it to be over. 

My boys play basketball, my youngest is hoping to play college ball. I was ready to criticize the "reality" of the storyline, but realize that back in the 1970s when this was set, things were likely different. Today - a kid getting to D1 status/getting a scholarship, without parental support, tons of leagues/tournaments outside of high school, without paying a recruiter, without actively seeking out post-high school possibilities ... it's not going to happen (even non-D1 play). Even with extreme height and talent, that William would have gone on to play ... unlikely. Still, it was fun to have the topic of basketball play such a big part in the story.  I even thought about having my son read the first chapter or two, just to see what his feeling were about the presentation. 

I liked the characters enough - but they were all certainly flawed, almost to the point of unlikability.  I think the story just went on too long, and despite everything, I did feel things were a little "ewww" SPOILER

The mother abandoning the family, William leaving the one sister, abandoning his daughter, marrying the other sister. How intertwined the younger three sisters were, all living together for so long.

So - eh. While the title came into play, I don't know if it was enough for me to be featured as the title. Not that I can think of an alternative. This just didn't have anything special that I'd really recommend it, and I think my memories of it are mostly negative.