I should stop reading books by this author ... people recommend them and I think I should try because he is so popular. This one is pretty much his stock standard formula that he more or less recreates every time: man meets woman, waits too long or does something stupid, man loses woman. He writes about lost love, and unrequited love, and it clearly strikes a chord with people. I am sure fans of the author will love the book, but I just kept waiting for something to happen other than the obvious. As a side, the book gives us a concise history of the former Yugoslavia, and some wry observations of England in the late 70's.