Wonderful story, and yes the ending is a shocker, so if...
348465
you're faint of heart, perhaps this wouldn't be for you.  However, I believed R.Pilcher's recommendation was good enough for me, especially (considering) her sense of reality in each of her novels.  Real life isn't always rosey, and bizarre occurrences happen to the best families.  I'm not usually stumped, but Ms. Whitnell had me rapidly tearing through this book in order to find out... "who-done-it"... !  If you like stories about young people growing up in England and accept there are some harsh realities to contend with, you'll enjoy this interesting story!
3707786
A impulsive pick, I like the author's previous novels. While I was reading, sometimes I thought the story was a bit tedious, yet interesting. I was completely caught off guard with the ending. Don't want to spoil it for possible readers, but it will give an entirely new, different perspective to the entire book. I love that...when you don't see the "end" coming. Yes, read and enjoy!
2717203
This book has a surprise for you at the end. It is not the typical ending and I really liked that twist. Very refreshing! Love the characters, too.
4752096
The author likes stories when bad things happen to good people and this was a great example.  The twists and turns were unexpected and the ending left me stunned.  Will definitely look for other books by this author.
2913016
It has a great plot, and the ending is a huge surprise. I won't spoil it by describing.
4101433
I was loving this book, but the abrupt ending was far from satisfactory to me until I thought it through. Brilliant.
1074498
Great book. The ending is not what I expected.
3322240
This is a beautifully-told, fascinating story that begins in a fairly straightforward, but enjoyable, direction and takes several 180-degree turns--moments that make you say, "Yes! That's exactly how it has to happen! And yet I had no idea that *that* was going on!" I love it when authors can do that. The best advice that my old creative writing professor gave us was that the ending of a story should be "surprising yet inevitable." Robinson does an incredible job of accomplishing that very thing, not once but *twice*.
One caveat: Do not read this book just because it is a Lambda Literary Award winner, and do not pay attention to the note on the back that claims it is "a powerful epic of interstellar travel, alternate sexuality, and overpowering obsession." The so-called "alternate sexuality" is a *very* minor aspect of the book, and it is really closer to what I would call "normal" (i.e. people are generally bisexual--although even in this case, there are conspicuously few gay pairs). Nevertheless, it is a beautiful, enthralling story that I couldn't put down, and I urge everyone to get their hands on a copy.
829111
I was completely mesmerized by this book.  The twists and turns created by the author  deserve high praise indeed...but as I saw in a brief review it is as if the author did not know how to end the book...so she just stopped writing.  I would definitely recommend this book and possibly someone else might be happy with the ending.
94949
I loved this book once I got into this author's style, she is a craftsman with words. An artist in her field.

The book is intricately intertwined. Two stories in one. So detailed you feel the characters. Smell the smell, feel each emotion.

However, the three stars. A shocking, very abrupt ending. No ending really. You find out little to nothing about what happens to the characters you have come know and care about. Also many gaps in years of how the main characters got where they are today.

Pick it up, read it, you will be sucked into a wonderful story.

Such a shame on this ending with nothing wrapped up. Such a promising writer, but because of the ending I doubt I will read another of this author's work.
1386336
The book is fun. At times it appears extremely wonderful and then it goes quite the opposite. Anyway I'm eager to read the sequence. The end of this book is a shocker that leaves you in the middle of surprise craving for more
2175798
I loved this book because every time I thought, I had something figured out, something completely different happened. It had twists and "truth bombs" that really caught me off guard, but that is what was so great about it. Also, I really appreciated how funny it was; I didn't expect for this book to be humorous at all, but it was and I loved that. My only issue with this book (which is why I knocked off a star) is that I was very upset with the ending. I don't wanna put any spoilers, but I think it's fair to say that EVERYONE expected a different ending.
816236
I just finished this book and I loved every word!  The characters were quite deep and I felt as though I had a good sense of each.  I could have never predicted the ending; it was great!  I love stories where you have the sense that more is going on than meets the eye, but you don't know quite what.  The author did a great job at building the story from the perspectives of several characters, while revealing just enough at a time to keep you hooked.  The end was a shock and completely unpredictable.  Also, the ending made sense.  I often am left with questions at the end of books, and it's always such a disappointment to have read the whole thing and then be left with an ambiguous "decide the meaning for yourself" ending... that does not happen here, it is quite clear.  I can't wait to read more by this author.  Thanks for an unforgettable read!
1148086
i was surprised at the ending, but the book was really great.....
2091459
I loved this story until about 3/4 of the way through, when it suddenly shifted the voice from 3rd person to first. Disconcerting. And then there is no conclusion; it just peters off. I get that this is real life, there are no real endings; but a book should still have a conclusion, a way that the book (not life) ends.
The first 3/4 of the book, though, is well written and a fascinating story. My favorite type of non-fiction - not grand, but a slice of life with an interesting twist. A good writer - Tracy Kidder comes to mind - can take almost any story and make it interesting. This story isn't just any story; it is an odd and fun discovery. Just be prepared to be let down as it runs out of steam.
1196508
Weve all heard the saying that if something can go wrong, it probably will . . . yet I was not prepared for the surprise ending in Inge Moores clever short story about teratologythe study of congenital malformations. Who would guess such a strange twist was even remotely possible? To say more would spoil the story, but its good reading, and worth the 5 stars I gave it.
60773
It was really interesting and I loved all the twists and turns. I predicted a few things but not all--and certainly not that ending! To say it surprised me would be a massive understatement. I love it until the end and it changed my entire view of the book. Not really my cup of tea I suppose.