I am the third to last person on the planet to read this book. First and foremost, the thing is crack, Peeps, Lays Potato Chips–whatever you can’t just have one of. You pick it up and then you find yourself sneaking in pages before you get to work and staying up well past your bedtime to finish that next chapter. It’s incredibly quick-paced, which is both to its benefit and its detriment.

The story is easy to visualize, which is a difficult feat in writing. There’s minimal expository and the characters are fleshed out just enough that you can picture them (Tom Hanks, Audrey Tatou, Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany, Jean Reno) in their scenes, acting their little hearts out. The disappointment of the quick pace comes in the form of much glossing over of the detailed research that the story was based on. A lot of facts are thrown out there with virtually no context or discussion or time to digest them. More expository would have ruined the pace but elevated the story.

I had avoided this book so that I could be all elitist and say, “Oh no, I’ve never read it. Such trash.” But then I read this in the midst of working on becoming more grateful, understanding, and open. When the book appeared for free on a shelf in the apartment building, I snatched it up as an offering from the universe to make some connections. Still thinking about it…