How have I gone through life without reading Annie Dillard? This was my first experience with her and I loved this slim novel. It is the story of the Maytrees... Lou and Toby and their long relationship. It is a novel about the stages of love and the power of forgiveness. Dillard writes beautifully and really SEES things around her. (So do Toby and Lou.) Sometimes I would read a paragraph again and again just to experience the beauty of her words. My only complaint? I had trouble keeping some of the minor characters in my head. They just weren't vivid enough. But this is a lovely little novel. I'm eager to read more of Dillard's work.