An interesting concept for a novel, there was a lot of good character work in this book. Patchett does well with establishing good closed circle situations and really making things feel quite insular. There isn't a lot to the plot, so the literary end of this is definitely the strong point. The writing is good and evocative. I didn't feel overly connected to the characters, but I could absolutely respect the talent behind the creation and there were some beautifully written moments.