Finishing this long-winded opus felt like an accomplishment, and I never would have done it, had it not been picked out by my book discussion group. It's not the longest book I've ever read, but it's a tough read, full of esoteric conversations and not much action. However, I did find the characters interesting and mostly likeable. For instance, Belbo's family stories and his fictional writings are intriguing, as are Casaubon's conversations with Amparo and Lia. The ending is something to think about, too.

This novel is something to be experienced, and I'm glad that I did. Don't go reading it for the plot!