Excellent novel. The character Alma is so thoroughly developed one is logically in her thought process but also able to see the human, all too human, inconsistencies. The tensions between Polish immigrants and Norwegians, the tensions between landlord and tenant is detailed not in overblown drama, but in quotidian…tragedy (maybe too strong a word, but I can think of no better at the moment) The detail of her work as a tapestry artisan, it’s really very very good. The novel builds well and the climax is powerful.