There is something about this book that drew me in just by the way that the description showcases the many roles that one woman needs to take on during her life, and the pressure that is put on one seventeen year old girl by herself, the men in her life, culture, and society to meet those expectations. The author's writing style captures this predicament beautifully. Not only was she able to transport me to Marely's world with vivid descriptions, but she drew me into Marley's experiences, even though they are not my own. This is a wonderful aspect of the Women's Literature genre, an exploration of what it means for one woman to live her life in the face of the challenges and pressures placed upon her. This was an intensely character driven novel and a book that will speak to any woman who is trying to be herself in the face of the people she must care for and deal with.