This long, beautifully-written book will not please everyone, but I personally felt it was worth the effort. The main characters are not loveable at all, but their stories (and those of their ancestors) help the reader understand their make-up and often their motivations. A retired English teacher, I yearned to tackle this book in an AP English class where its language, allusions, and structure could be discussed and analyzed. A two-hour, book club discussion did not do it justice.