It took me a couple of months to read this book, mostly because it was much more dense than the average book I've been reading lately. I'm sure I missed a lot of the philosophical aspects, though.

I was surprised at how well the story was developed, given that it is an epistolary novel. The letters (and occasional news clips) were very carefully structured so that you couldn't lose track of the story. Each letter writer had a distinctive voice that was quite consistent throughout the novel.

My favorite aspect, I think, was the richness of the characters. The four lead characters were interesting, thoughtful people. I particularly liked the strong female characters because they were strong in very different ways. I also liked the Friedrich Engels character because he created a tie to the time where the book is set.

And, even though it sounds like it could be ponderous, it was really quite entertaining.