In a thoughtful preface the author explains that though she rarely accepts people's suggestions to write some version of their stories, she found herself listening to one woman's story and agreeing to write about it in the form of a novel in which, she warned the teller, she would take whatever liberties the storytelling required, market it as fiction, and make no pretense to accurate documentation.  That said, it is clear in both the preface and the story that ensues that hearing and reflecting on the actual events involved Berg in close examination of the often painful social exclusion, disempowerment and humiliation that come with disability, with legal developments in care for those with disabilities, and in appreciative appraisal of the resourcefulness required in daily life of both people with disabilities and those who assist them with intimate care.  Though I wouldn't call it her best novel, it is a considerable contribution to the growing literature about disability and an engaging, informative, humbling read.