There is nothing so destructive to a relationship than that which goes unsaid. It is everything that is not said, that is kept a secret, that wears away at a marriage: easily summed up, not so easily portrayed in a novel. It is this portrayal of a silent, strained marriage, as it follows husband and wife through normal personal struggles (James, working too hard; Pamela, feeling ignored) that creates such a subtle, heartbreaking beauty here. But what begins as a sparse and realistic plotline quickly opens up to a mysterious journey when Pamela leaves a "Dear James" letter and sets off with their children to reconcile her past.

What's beautiful about this novel is that as the plot opens up and takes its twists and turns, the relationship between husband and wife remains the strength of the prose. These two people are so confused, so in love, and have so much to contend with. They need to talk! And each time they do, they seem to say everything but what they need to say. I kept thinking the world seemed against them, but all they really needed was to confide in each other, to share.

Notice how I'm speaking of these characters as though I know them? This is Savva's magic.