A visceral, heart-wrenching experience. Never have I read a book that spans as many years and intertwines so many sub-plots while maintaining intense emotional connections with the characters. It's a beautifully devastating, horribly depressing exploration of trauma, friendship, loss, grief, love, suicidal ideation, sexuality; growth and regression. Disconcerting and uncomfortable while so incredibly engrossing that these aspects are testaments to the strength and emotional realness of the novel.