This was a very character driven novel. There are several characters within the family who the book goes through. It is also a slow read. The reader will need to be patient while the story builds. Personally, I do not enjoy slow burns or character driven novels.. so I don't think this one is for me. I enjoyed the first part of the book and getting to know the current generation of the family. Once it went into the past, I lost a bit of interest, but it picked up again for me later on. The characters are very vividly done. I felt like I knew them in real life. You really get to know their fears and desires. There wasn't a single character that I didn't like or felt that I related to in some way or another. I think this would be a good book for someone looking to take their time, and delve into a strong, and deep, multi generational saga. I also liked the cultural aspect and learning of the countries in the book.