This was a provocative book with a certain compelling quality. It took me a while to get into it... and then I was captured. The length was both off-putting and effective -- I lived with the story for so long that it attained an unusual power over me. I just finished it this morning, so it's hard to judge at this point, but I think it will stay with me for a while.

I was surprised by the odd simplicity of the language. I couldn't tell if this was a result of the translation or the way the author originally used words. In fact, I think that the second translator was better; suddenly the text became more lyrical and evocative during Book III.

Many mysteries were left unexplained, and I was disappointed about that. I realize that this is a kind of dream-narrative, but I think that if you're going to dangle certain unresolved plot lines, you need to wrap them up -- or at least refer to them -- when you finish.