I've never rated a book 5-stars when there isn't a main plotline, per se.  The book had my crying at the end - a full circle ending needed. The book has multiple voices throughout the book all stemming from one character: Carol. Carol wasn't dealt a winning hand in life but she took her opportunity to make something of her life. Spanning multiple decades, we learn about who made Carol from herself, family members, and close friends. The book can be difficult to follow with no chronological order. Some chapters take place back in the 1930's before jumping to the 80's and then back to 40's. This style of writing can be difficult to follow and there isn't exactly a plotline. It's more of discovering who Carol was and what's makes her unique to the family.