I'll tell you what would've gave this book another star for me. I listened to this book on tape and a short story based on the novel was read by the author afterwards. I almost didn't continue since it was near bedtime. I'm glad I listened to it.

Ignore the epilogue in the novel, and read the short story instead. It's a much better epilogue and very well written. That change would've made this a 4 star novel.