Maybe because the story opens at Chapter 5 and not at the start from Chapter 1, I was immersed in sadness, and an acceptance of sadness. I found it disturbing that from day one the children were given roles, and throughout the reading stuck to the roles. It was refreshing that although not in an exciting marriage, the couple was comfortable with each other, and it was tolerated that dad was polite to his children - showing an interest in them - but not much more than expected. I am not sure if I really want to know more yet I am pulled by an unseen attraction to what is to come next in this book.