Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

Fleeing Nazi Germany in 1936, the Schwarts immigrate to a small town in upstate New York. Here the father—a former high school teacher—is demeaned by the only job he can get: gravedigger and cemetery caretaker. When local prejudice and the family's own emotional frailty give rise to an unthinkable tragedy, the gravedigger's daughter, Rebecca heads out into America. Embarking upon an extraordinary odyssey of erotic risk and ingenious self-invention, she seeks renewal, redemption, and peace—on the road to a bittersweet and distinctly “American” triumph.

Average Customer Rating:

disappointing ending	Customer Rating:
It was a great book as far as character development and portraying their relationships which is why the ending was incomplete. it did not give them due justice or completeness that the characters deserved.

famous writer but a pulp solution to the problem

Customer Rating:

My teacher friends liked to relax with Danielle Steele, who is easy to read and no one is going to give her a literary award I suppose. The heroines are all poor but beautiful and uncompromising in character, just like: TA DA this one. Well, and all problems are finally solved by the appearance of an amazingly RICH man who for no obvious reason disdains the wealthy women of his social group and marries down and rescues our heroine with all his handy dough. Otherwise, Rebecca would still be showing folks to their seats in the movies and brushing her hair till it shines, whatever that means, and little Zack would have to practice piano at home on the table instead of in a mansion. I think I prefer Danielle Steele because I am not obliged to Search For A Message in all this soap opera. Wait for the movie, if there is one.

what a frustrating read!

Customer Rating:

This book was repetitive and downright frustrating to read. The only reason why I bothered to finish reading it was because I bought this book when it first came out, in the expensive hardback format! I felt like the author just gave up towards the end of the book, it ended so abruptly and impersonally. Check this book out from your local library if you must, but don't bother wasting your money on it.

Good, but not great

Customer Rating:

I did enjoy this book, but I think the author got a little lost towards the end and didn't know how to finish the story. I almost didn't finish it because it just got kind of boring and pointless. I also had trouble believing that the main character would end up so cultured and refined after coming from that horrible background. I know that people can overcome adversity and "live the American dream," so to speak, but this was almost hard to believe. Overall, I think it is an interesting story and character study, but not one of my favorites.

Grim, Dark Misery

Customer Rating:

Despite the supposed quality of the writing, I can't get past the content of this book. It's disgusting; no lightness, joy, goodness of human nature here. Sorry, but if I wanted to wallow in misery, it would hardly be in a novel. The hovel they live in with "death leaking downwards" from the graveyard typifies the type of miserable grayness in this awful book. I finally have thrown in the towel after about 120 pages and am sorry that awfulness is in my mind. Violence, blood, cruelty, crassness, obscene, with no redeeming qualities. I don't know one person like any of the characters and am thankful for that. There is no nobility in this book, no kindness, no caring; nothing but the worst of humankind and despicable people. What a world to inhabit...