While global warming's effects pique and as people attempt to find meaning, despite a crumbling society, in personal relationships and faltering businesses, Michael Davis--the creator of this tale--has chosen to be idealistic enough to speculate that bookstores will still be around. This seems silly, but it endeared me to this book immediately (evidence of my reading addiction, I suppose).

Going deeper, I have to say that Davis has really taken on some huge issues without resorting to a pandering, preachy sort of of storytelling. He allows his readers to really get to know his characters; characters who, as they go through various life changes that represent different changes in society that have been burgeoning for sometime, are not only believable, but relatable and humbling.

Davis pulled off a neat trick: he has tackled large, looming issues, and managed to work them into such a concise and easy-to-read story. I'm impressed by his ability to engage me as a reader, but more, his ability to inject multiple meaning into each subplot and each character's action.