Reading this novel was a form of meditation for me. With each passing page, the words delicately carried me to a quiet, somber place. The beauty in the passages, the insights and the stories are lasting. While there was much beauty, almost every sentence touched me in some meaningful way -- it was painful to read of the four main characters’ suffering and solitude. But boy, could I relate to at least an aspect of each of their lives. Because of the meditative effect I experienced while reading GREAT HOUSE, I chose to pick up the book for short intervals of time, basking in its quiet rhythm unlike most dialogue-driven novels. I was often overwhelmed by this trance-like feeling and needed to reflect and absorb many of Krauss’ lovely passages. This is a book for people who value books and the craft of writing. One of the main characters, Isabel, describes her feelings about not accumulating domestic items, such as a pot, a chair, a lamp for fear of being w...