Critical Praise

"Poignant, humorous, and romantic."

——The New York Times

"Seduces readers into its world. . . . [A] very wise little story of love and illusion."

——The Philadelphia Inquirer

"A wonderful novel . . . formed by detailed layering and exquisite craftsmanship, like a beautifully tailored garment."

——The Chicago Tribune

"[A] thrilling and . . . truly great work. . . . [A] richly complex fable."

——San Francisco Chronicle Book Review

"Gives the rest of the world a glimpse into that dark place where the human spirit continues, against all odds, to shine its light."

——The Boston Globe

"An unexpected miracle–a delicate, and often hilarious, tale."

——Los Angeles Times Book Review

"A funny, touching, sly and altogether delightful novel . . . about the power of art to enlarge our imaginations."

——The Washington Post Book World

"Poetic and affecting. . . . The descriptions of life in this strangest of times and places are so riveting that the reader longs for more."

——The New York Times Book Review