I found this novel a compelling exploration of how we go on coping (or not) in the face of unfathomable loss. Although the novel is set after millions of people disappear from Earth in the "Sudden Departure," -- a Rapture-like event that is never fully explained -- what Perotta is really writing about is how ordinary people come to terms with loss, loneliness and a world that seems meaningless. He explores many of the same themes as Jonathan Franzen in "Freedom," but with a gentler tone and (I believe) more empathy for his characters. Despite the dramatic event that sets the novel off, this is really a novel of the domestic sphere, where men, women and teens struggle to find meaning and connection in their lives.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, I was not fully satisfied with a couple of the storylines where I felt the characters' motivations and actions (Laurie's, in particular) were not fully plausible. But all in all, The Leftovers is a strongly-written portrayal of highly relatable characters finding their way back to connection.

This is one of those books that kind of sneaks up on you, draws you in, and then hits you with a heartbreaking, unforgettable ending. At first, I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but as I kept reading I found myself falling in love with the characters. The novel centers on Judith, a woman in her 40's who left the town of Rufus Sage, Nebraska, and her first love, Willy Blunt, behind 27 years ago. Alternating between Judith's current life in Los Angeles as a film editor with a husband and daughter, and the summer when she first met Willy, this novel asks us to consider the consequences of what -- and whom -- we leave behind.

McNeal's writing is economical and beautiful, and it truly soars when he writes about the Nebraska landscape & the flawed, broken characters who inhabit it. The ending -- well, some people probably won't like it, but it was the right ending for these characters, and I think my heart broke just a little.

This book deserves a detailed review, but I've loaned out my copy -- I loved it and wanted to share it immediately! Grennan intended to spend a few weeks volunteering in Nepal before a trip around the world, and ended up staying longer than expected and becoming deeply involved with an orphanage, eventually reuniting many children who had been taken from their parents with their families. Grennan's story is incredibly touching, and he writes with a great deal of humor and grace about his interactions with the Nepali children under his care, the political situation in Nepal, and his budding romance with a woman he eventually marries. The comparisons to "Three Cups of Tea" are inevitable, as both books tell the story of a young man who dedicates himself to helping children in Asia, but Grennan's witty voice and insights are all his own. I think we will be hearing a great deal about this book as it becomes widely known!