TL;DR.

Okay, so I did finish this one, but it was not easy. The problem with audio books is that there isn't a satisfying way to skim when you lose interest in a section. So you can skip a few tracks and hope you chose well, or you can zone out and come back when you've decided what to make for dinner.

Anyway, this book has a lot to offer: interesting characters, sharp dialogue, and some hilarious scenes. Two that come to mind: a woman who refuses to speak directly to her husband for eight years, much to his consternation; that same husband holding up a PTA meeting in his attempts to get a pagan harvest festival struck from the school calendar. The problem with this book is that it tries to accomplish too much in one novel. It spans four generations of family history and features dozens of characters, all with their own back story and agenda. I had trouble keeping up with everyone and there were many instances where I found myself wondering where some characters had disappeared to.

I recommend this book for readers more patient than I.