Unlike, GFIII which could have "stood alone", I don't believe GFR could. The storyline assumes that the reader knows the extensive background of all the main characters. I would think that someone with no knowledge of any of the characters would be completely lost. It has a built in appeal, and that is that as we read the book, we have picture perfect images in our minds as to what the characters look like! In the little I have read, I think its an interesting attempt to "fill in" the missing pieces of the original stories. My only negative reaction, is some of the inaccuracies of the write as to "facts"