ever since we had children i have been giving natalie grief about how schmaltzy she has become. but even though i knew all along the outcome of this story i couldn’t read the last page. i had such a hard time getting through the last page that my five year old son, who i was reading to, didn’t know what happened (either in the story or with his father).

from the author: “there’s no point in going on if you feel that way. no point at all. you must be filled with expectancy. you must be awash in hope. you must wonder who will love you, whom you will love next.”