After reading the First Look for “Half a Cup of Sand and Sky,” I was struck by how heavy this book felt. I’m not sure if it’s the somber tone of the writing or just the storyline in general, but there is a definite heaviness about it. The cover is almost the polar opposite; pretty, stylistic, and misleadingly bright. While the novel seems intriguing, it’s simply not for me and I don’t feel the desire to read on.