Let me start off by saying that I loved the storyline and the concept of this book. Naslund’s voice is exquisite, just as it is in Abundance. However, at 660+ pages, it was a little much. Don’t get me wrong, I get really excited at the prospect of a really long book, just not length for the sake of length. There were about 200 unnecessary pages in this book. The good news is they were in 10-20 page increments; there was not a section I could just cut out (unlike Atlas Shrugged or The Poisonwood Bible).
Una is a fascinating character, unexpected, forward thinking, and groundbreaking for her time. I did enjoy watching her evolution as a woman and her intellectual growth. It is a slower read, but I would certainly recommend it for someone who has a propensity for words and historical fiction, not to mention Captain Ahab.
