I read this book over the course of a pivotal weekend in my life, and was astounded at the connections which leapt off the page. But for anyone, this intelligent, thoroughly researched novel is packed with beautiful realisations on life and love, strapped together with a plot which abounds with inventive imagery, occasional violence, and understated menace. This is the literary equivalent of the Dutch movie, The Vanishing; but in addition is much much more than that. The pacing is superb, the characters real, the psychology believeable. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.