More and more I think that any attempt to analyze character, or even plot, in this book is misguided. There are no characters, only cardboard cutouts being pushed around by the author for his own convenience. The plot, too, seems to be a pastiche of whatever the author thinks ought to go into a book, or might grab an audience's attention. I am starting to get a mental picture of the author, and he strikes me as -- dare I say it? -- deeply cynical.

There, I said it. Now despise me if you dare! :-)

By the way, I am not by any means criticizing the choice of this book for a group read. I have been finding this extremely interesting, and I have learned a lot.