I loved this book. This may be my favourite Toews novel so far. Toews has a wonderful and humorous way of illustrating her characters' resilience in the face of hardship and tragedy. Also, the details she uses create such verisimilitude, I almost believe that Half a Life is an actual place, and the characters in it are living, breathing human beings. For instance, the Sikh caretaker, Singh Dillon, is called "Sing Dylan" by the residents of Half a Life, and this quirky little detail seems so odd and funny that it simply must be real. Lish's ever-present spider-pin, that is shined up for special occasions, is another such detail.

In my work, I know a lot of single mothers, and I hear about their stories and their struggles, so this novel rang very true for me. However, although it deals with people in difficult circumstances, it's not a Sad Sack sort of book. It made me laugh out loud many times.