I listened to this on tape and made up tasks to do so I could keep listening. In fact, it's the kind of book I end up going around the block several times simply because I want to keep listening. That said, it definitely dragged in parts and there were times I wanted to slap the characters for their interminable internal monologues. So the question is: how can a book be both riveting and boring and at the same time?

Songs without Words is the story of a friendship between Liz and Sarabeth, a friendship consisting of defined roles. Liz is the mother figure, the strong, one the comforter, and Sarabeth is the needy, hopeless flake. Liz comes from an intact family and Sarabeth from a dysfunctional one (her mother committed suicide when she was 16). These roles are challenged when Liz's own daughter attempts suicide.

Okay. So we're dealing with really big issues on an every day level--- which makes for compelling reading. And the meticulous details of the protagonists' lives are both truly engaging and truly boring. Amazon reviews are all over the place with this book. On the whole, however, I'm one of the people who became engaged and almost mesmerized by the fine writing and the exact details. Not everyone loves Andrew Wyeth but everyone has to admit he's a great craftsman. Ditto Ann Packer.