Wonderful writing is, perhaps, the best reason to read this book... I enjoyed Pipkin‘s story about astronomy, rivalry, love, obsession & revolution in late 1800s Ireland. If it sounds like a lot going on, it is & I‘ve seen some people complaining about the jumping around. I didn‘t have any trouble tracking the story, however, & even enjoyed, for the most part, the slower pacing of the book. A good selection for fans of historical fiction.