This book made me realize how I don't like Ellie much and how little there is to her character. She's the focus of the first book but has very few scenes in any if the others (some for very specific reasons). But it seems like she's only capable of a handful of emotions: fear and stubbornness. She's constantly saying, "David, I'm scared." or freaking out about something and he has to calm her down or crying.

It's never fun to see the flaws in something beloved.

But the odd thing is, even though I read this series with a whole different perspective this time around, there's still something about it I love. All the other characters are pretty great. And the picture if faith and the culture and the history if it are very poignant. That's what I keep coming back to again and again.