A slow, beautifully crafted book exploring family and home and the fundamental hold they can have on us, no matter how much we try to separate ourselves. The writing is crystalline - it's not surprising that Gorton made her name as a poet - and the characters are complex, frustrating and, ultimately, human. It's not a gripping page turner, but if you let yourself sink into the world that Gorton has created, there's a lot here to enjoy.