Charmaine Craig's The Good Men is at the top of my most cherished books list, and I can't recommend it more highly. I have not submitted an online review before, but I loved this book so much, I felt compelled to comment. The novel entirely drew me in from beginning to end, and I couldn't put it down once I started. I still find myself reflecting on the three generations of characters, feeling for them as if they were real to me. In particular, I was struck by the author's most honest portrayal of the human condition. Her characters were true to life -- complicated and imperfect, wanting goodness, but invariably stumbling along their interconnected paths. Through their struggles and triumphs, Craig cut straight to the core of what it means to be human, in all its pain and beauty. Though the story takes place in medieval France, its essence is absolutely timeless, and just as relevant today as ever. I am in awe of this talented, first time novelist, and can't wait to see what's next on her horizon.

The best historical novels transport us to a world we've never known and teach us something important about the world we live in presently. This beautiful, resonant book does just that. As I read, I felt immersed in the richness of medieval times. The many aspects of life and land are vividly described. Perhaps more importantly, this book enriched my life by furthering my experience. I felt as if I had lived with its characters, and their experiences became mine. The Good Men transcends the genre of historical fiction. It is a classic that I will return to with gratitude and pleasure.

I finished reading The Good Men two weeks ago and I can't get it out of my head, so I have to add my praise to the long list of glowing remarks already posted by other admirers of this beautiful book. I won't be surprised if this novel garners lots of awards. Ms. Craig's masterly prose, her eye for detail, and her ability to find emotional nuance in scene after scene, transported me to another place and time, where her characters struggle, each in their own way, with how to live life. Like in all great works of literature, the characters are often flawed, but through Craig's compassionate telling, each takes on a kind of dignity and human grace, right down to the fallen priest, Pierre Clergue, whose final act (which I won't give away) is so right and momentous, that it gives reason and meaning to his life in its very last seconds. My book club loved this book too, and I've been recommending it to everyone.