This is, in my opinion, great literature. Multiple themes and storylines that the author weave together so well. Strong, completely believable characters. Truth and lies. Lies that are harmless, until they are not. Guilt and innocence -- of children, of the times. Sometimes difficult to read because of the subject matter but always provocative and insightful.

I loved the setting and got swept up in memories of my own childhood.

I loved the issues probed by the story, such as the moral cost of the space program in Canada and U.S. And especially Jack's struggle in determining whether to condemn an innocent child to prison for the greater good of national security.

Maybe a bit long...it took a while for the story to get moving; on the other hand, I got totally immersed in the time and place of the story. There is a big jump in the story from Madeleine as a child to an adult. The t transition wasn't well managed and it took me a while to care about the adult Madeleine. But overall, a great read. ( )

Excellent literature. Amazing symbols (eg butterflies, birds, planes) motifs (eg dogs) multiple themes (eg truth/lies) woven throughout the book. The characters are dynamic, round, and well developed so that you care about them (hate/love). There are enough hints to make you see what the author wants you to see (but does not want to tell you outright) and still many things left to the end.

I love the caricature of the 1950s/60s household: innocence and appearances in the memory of WWII and the face of the Cold War. I love the areas of grey that the author invites you to see. I love the writing style -- descriptive without being narration-heavy, for instance. Also, in the change in story between Parts 3 and 4 there is a shift in the writing that echoes the changes in time and characters -- the characters are older, the world is different, and without being completely different, the voice is also more adult, more mature. Brilliant.

The setting of this story is completely different from [b:Fall on Your Knees|5174|Fall on Your Knees|Ann-Marie MacDonald|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165517999s/5174.jpg|941309] but both books deal with disturbing subject matter. They both are so well written, however, that I still can call them excellent. ( )

I read this book loving it several years ago. It brought back my memories of living in the sixties during the Cold War; that part is still true. My patience and tastes must have changed as this time I felt there was way too many details and I didn't particularly like the "grown up" Madeleine. Overall, still a good read. ( )

Too slow for me. Way too much detail without plot progress. Gave up after 400 pages (there was another 400 to go!). ( )

This book held me from beginning to end. A horrible crime, and in the end, a story about how secrets can have a devastating outcome. I will be reading this like a dog gnaws on a bone. ( )