I initially only gave this book 3 stars. It wasn't what I wanted it to be at the time and I was, honestly, just glad to be through it because, let's be real, this sucker is long. However, two years after the fact, I want to say that I have thought deeply and seriously about this book, its characters and multiple philosophical dilemmas as much (if not more than) even my most favorite books. It has resonated with me in more long term ways that my original response could have possibly accounted for. And so I am changing my review to 5 stars, adding it to my favorites list, and writing this review in hopes that someone will give the thing a go with the understanding -as this book works so determinedly to point out- that nothing is ever really black and white. Least of all my opinions of this novel and its continuously perplexing postulations. And if the irony of that alone isn't enough to make you want to read it then I don't know what would.