[oilchange]

> I obviously can't argue further as I haven't read it.

You should. It's the best of its kind in my opinion.

> I will remark that different people will react to the same material variously uplifted or beaten-down, and neither reaction is less valid (unless they just misunderstood the plot).

I'm open to people having subjective feelings - like whether they enjoyed it, they found it too graphic, not graphic enough, etc. But uplifting is different. There has to be something concrete to back up the feeling of being uplifted.

> Personally, I tend to find depictions of nobility and perseverance in the face of imminent doom interesting and moving if not uplifting.

But that's the point. It isn't nobility and perseverance in the face of imminent doom. The mother thought it was inevitable doom. The father had hope. It's perseverance in false hope. Nonexistent hope. It's like you seeing a person jump 100 stories from the twin towers and flapping his arms in the hopes of flying and saving himself. Would you say that is uplifting? Of course not. Unless you were being edgy or silly.

Instead of reading silly amazon reviews, go read the book and see for yourself.