If you've been paying attention to American literature during the past decade or so, you will know the score of this novel. If that makes you want to skip it, you're making a huge mistake. Egan takes change, growing up, constrained freedom and all those other topics that US novelists love, but deals with them in a clever form that adds another layer of meaning. More detailed reviews can be found elsewhere, let me just say that I am happy to close off my 2013 readings with something as superb as this novel.