Discussion date: May 12, 2008

What we thought:

Everyone enjoyed reading this book, but some people were more put off by the ending than others. Six readers gave it a 4-star rating, and three in the group rated it 3 stars. The main objection was that some felt a bit tricked and manipulated by the ending (similarly to The Lace Reader). Others thought the way the author depicted the mental state of the main character made the final revelations in the story plausible. We did agree that the book was well-written and thought-provoking, with its sympathetic insights about the homeless and the questions it raised about the nature of truth. At any rate, it was definitely a book that gave us a whole lot to talk about!

Reader's guide