This novella, set in the Aegean, taught me something. It taught me that I really know nothing about Balkan history and geography. I felt ignorant!

Now......the novella itself, in terms of plot, character development, and use of language, was marvelous. A recent widower, wanders aimlessly in his car, eventually picking up three hitchhikers, and they become a foursome. Now the reader is woven into the varying stream of consciousness inner worlds of each traveler and a six degrees of separation story. All this in 144 pages. What a read! Who is this 5th character, Elena? Daughter, friend, lover, sadist? Read this engrossing novella to sort this all out! ( )