Instruct: Classify a review into positive or negative sentiment.
Query: I wish I hadn't read it . . .

just so I could discover it for the first time. It's generally pointless trying to capture the quality of this book and others have made a better effort of it than I might, but one has to be deeply heartened by the author's humanity and love of his characters, even those with considerable personality disorders. It's a thread that runs through all his fiction and I admire him greatly for it. Add to that a dynamic imagination, a respect for his native vernacular and a sense of hope, and we've seen the tip of the iceberg. Winton is a masterful writer.