A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton (1999, Paperback)

This is one of those novels I'll never forget. It is truly an unforgettable book--kind of like The Lovely Bones, A Thousand Acres, or The Weight of Water. It is a haunting book about a woman who is present when a friend's child accidently drowns on her property. The woman's guilt and grief of dealing with her friend's loss are told in an astounding manner, and the horrific criminal proceedings are hard to forget.

Hamilton's fine gift for language allows her to share delicate, eloquent details of the beautiful Wisconsin setting in which the book takes place.
A good read, but depressing.

This is one of many books I've read in the last few years where I found it hard to make any type of a positive connection with the characters. The book is interesting and tragic and while well-written, I just didn't enjoy it as much as Hamilton's first novel.

I bought it because I loved The Book of Ruth, and because it was an Oprah book and I usually like those, however, it took me a few attempts to actually get through it.

I would give it a B.