This book is a sad example of why I sometimes feel bewildered by straight fiction writing. It seems to be full of unhappy people with no explanation or obvious motivation for what they do; they simply blunder through. Yes, somedays I too feel unfulfilled and blunder through, but rather than feel kinship with the main character, I simply don't want to spend time with her. A book about a life, but one with no thoughtfulness or meaning behind it. Don't bother.