Virgil Wander is an acquired taste. Virgil Wander is a slow burn. Virgil Wander Wanders. A lot. This book reminded me of John Irving's books, where it takes so long to get to the point. It's a very everyday kind of book, where even if nothing is happening, it's written down in the book. A lot of parts were boring, slow, tedious. About halfway through it picks up a little but not much. I liked the book in the end but it took too long to get there so I gave it 3 stars. I liked the small town-ness of it, I grew up in a small town too, where everyone knows your name. I liked the relationships that were built in the book as well. But the flow was just too slow for me to enjoy. I like the cover of the book, it's quaint and I liked the Empress! I do want to read Enger's Peace Like a River though.