I felt exactly the same as Golda when I found out the story so far had been three years. Why didn't they hear anything at all from their older son, and why wasn't he even mentioned during the time he was gone?

I do find that I don't care too much about the characters. I finished the book merely because I just wanted to see how it played out - out of curiosity, not because I was being compelled. Well, plus I'm supposed to be moderating the discussion, so that made me finish it too! :-)