What a special book. It's a book about a town and its people, about a man who metamorphizes. It's the type of book that makes me marvel at those writers of fiction who are able to create such incredible invented realities. It is sweet and heartfelt, subtle and intricate. The histories of the townspeople that Virgil embarks on are rich and colorful, and they truly feel like the real stories of real people. Virgil himself is almost a one-man Greek chorus, narrating the goings-on of Greenstone with near-omniscience, but with a phenomenal depth of character. I can't help but sit here with the dopiest grin on my face after finishing this, because it was just so perfect. Enger's writing is unbelievably beautiful while never getting overblown. His quiet turns of phrase and the effortless beauty of his descriptions elevate this book from good to amazing. I'm so happy that I read this, especially when I did.