Wow, such a deceptively dense book. And I don't mean its size, because obviously a 650-whatever-page book is going to have a lot going on. But it's really intricate and unpredictable. For the first third or so I was thinking it was like a very smart HBO series, but it's more than that, honestly -- it slowly edges over into darkness in a non-melodramatic way and by the end it's really kind of wrenching. But entertaining, too.

Murray's a terrific writer and the whole thing prickles with energy, a lot of it very funny and some of it decidedly not, and that was all to its benefit. It could have been trimmed of some fat, I guess, but my attention never flagged and I didn't mind the heft -- not even on the subway in rush hour, which is saying something. And for such a rollicking book, it leaves a lot to be mentally picked over afterward -- this isn't one I'll close and just forget about. It was good stuff, and worth all that anticipation.