This book is a book about humanity. It tells the story of how people and the world around us shape us, sometimes gradually and sometimes in a blink of an eye. I found it to be a wonderfully done exploration of culture and our sense of belonging. The writing was detailed, it was an exquisite read that deserves to be contemplated and given time to breath. This is not an inhale in one sitting type of book. It reminded me of that feeling you get when you return home from studying abroad, things are familiar and yet you see things differently. The two main characters give the reader the ability to see Mars as a both a first time viewer and as someone returning home, which creates a beautiful dimension for the audience. However, I would say that the book is very long for a character driven novel.