** spoiler alert ** I have enjoyed Anna Quindlen's columns in the past. I remember thinking her writing cut right to the chase, reaching the reader (or at least me). That was journalism. I know she's written several books since then, and I may have read one. But this one disappointed me. This was such a searing, intense subject matter to write about. I have read some of the reviews, and I see that some people were greatly moved by this book. In my case, I found it quite boring, and almost "cutsie" in the beginning. Then, when the story shifts into tragic mode, it never affected me the way it should have. I did not identify with the mother, Mary Beth. Many of her reactions were somewhat incomprensible to me. Her reaction to the boy (and his family) that slaughtered most of her family and tried to kill her was a little too benign as far as what I would imagine a mother and wife's reaction to be. There were exceptions, and some of the parts were nicely written, and evoked some pathos and emothion. But, overall, I would not recommend it. I do see that it has been on the best seller list, so obviously many people find the book satisfying.