THE SANDCASTLE GIRLS (Chris Bohjalian) - October 3/12

All of my usual complaints with Bohjalian's books apply here - ie it's too long, it's overwritten, it's too self-serious, etc - and I just found that most of this book was a total slog to get through. Bohjalian clearly has a deep connection to the material and it does seem like that has prevented him from writing a novel designed to entertain more than to educate. There are a few compelling subplots here, including the shocking return (and fate) of Armen's presumed-dead wife, but on the whole the book is simply not terribly compelling. ** out of ****