I found it refreshing to read about a sensitive male character who understood his wife better than she understood herself. By leaving his monthly missives, he enabled her to recover from the shock of his early demise and begin life anew. Although he was already gone when the book opened, he was the most fully developed character in the entire book. I liked this book more than some of the other members of the club, and that is unusual. I have very little patience with simpering females, but I sympathized with this one and even cried along with her in several episodes. I enjoyed the foreign setting and foreign phrases peppered throughout. It definitely made me consider how I treat those I love and what I would do if I lost them.

Somewhat reminiscent of In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, the book has many disturbing sections. Some readers may find this off putting. At first I found it difficult to connect with the main character, a deeply scarred individual; however, by the end of the book, I did develop considerable empathy for her.