Elizabeth Ellen’s prowess at character concoction is readily apparent from the first page. In lieu of standard dialogue, she does something marvelous: relays story through vignettes that are not only meticulous in craft and heft, but self-sufficient ecosystems of plot, characterization, and symbolism. These self-contained vignettes function as linked accounts of the unfolding narrative and are also blatant reminders of the cinematic quality of Ellen’s writing. Mary Buchanan Sellers review...