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

"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

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

——San Francisco Chronicle Book Review

"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