A woman re-connects with her mother during a long hospital stay.  Through conversations and remembrances their history comes out in bits and pieces.  This gentle narrative circles around a horrific childhood that is slowly revealed in small details.  I found that the storytelling was deft and subtle, exploring the fringes of childhood abuse and poverty without hitting the reader over the head.  I enjoyed learning more and more about the characters as their conversations took shape.  It was surprisingly fast and enjoyable read for the seriousness of the content.