Book Review - The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness

This is an enchanting and possibly enchanted book about love and forgiveness. Two ordinary people, George and his daughter Amanda are immeasurably changed when they meet Kumiko. A woman who may be the reincarnation of a wounded crane or may not. I loved it but know others who just didn't get it. It may be for you or it may not. "Stories do not explain. They seem to, but all they provide is a starting point. A story never ends at the end. There is always after. And even within itself, even by saying this version is the right one, it suggests other versions, versions that exist in parallel. No, a story is not an explanation, it is a net through which the truth flows. The net catches some of the truth, but not all, never all, only enough so that we can live with the extraordinary without it killing us." She sagged a little, as if exhausted by this speech. "As it surely, surely would." After a moment, George asked, "Has something extraordinary happened to you?" "To me", she said, "and to everyone…." Wendy