I won't lie, it took me a while to warm up to this story; several times, I even contemplated stopping. However, in the end, it touched my soul, bringing tears to my eyes. A masterful portrayal of a grand narrative in human history through one small, seemingly insignificant life. The magic of words shines brightly here. Ultimately, I'm glad I stuck with this story until the end; I'm not the same person after it.