Nice surprise that this novel 750 pages by an unknown author. It is true that the life of each of the characters is not easy and sometimes even dramatic. But, among the exiles who fled the East for various reasons and the 12 year old kid fanatic books and table football, friendship, and almost a second family, form slowly. Optimism is always present, but it's an optimism reason (we're alive and we have to eat, drink (!) Or play chess). This puts a lot of things facing the gloom around us in early 2010. Beautiful book, to read again!
