I originally read this in 2002 and remembered that I really liked it, I decided to read it again as I had come across a copy in the last year (had borrowed it the first time). While the prose is intense and complete in a way that makes a reader want to bow down to the author, the story is, as it is probably intended to be, somewhat depressing. Maybe it just wasn't what I wanted to be reading this summer. My mindset aside, this is a beautifully written and crafted read.