There was a story somewhere in there....the whole novel is centering on one man's obsession with the woman who got away. And unfortunately I do not find the writing style of this author to be very enjoyable. I read Snow and found it terrible waste of words and this one becomes just as tedious. It has no redeeming qualities. Im an avid reader from Jane Austin, Dickens to Heinlein, and Jules Verne I have wide range. I read politics, science, cookbooks, if they are worth my time. This is published because the the author is riding the tide of the Kite Runner euphoria and cashing in on it. But he cant create hals as good story line as that was.