Won this particular book in a contest. Wouldn't have picked it up on my own (I'm more a SFF gal), but I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. It's a very moving tale. It blends the stories of two families in old and new Poland, and shows how their lives are intertwined. I won't go into much detail, but this book evokes some very powerful emotional responses. The failures and triumphs of the cast of characters are so real and impactful, you can't help but be drawn in to see where fate leads them.
The story of Pigeon and Anielica will at times make you laugh, and at others, cry. Pasulka had an extraordinarily clear vision of both a Poland wracked by poverty and war, and a newer Poland that never quite rid itself of the dark cloud of a World War.
This story introduced me to a culture and a nation, making it more than a place on the map. The writing itself was what truly drew me in. Strongly recommended, no matter your taste in genre.