"The Snow Leopard" author Matthiessen tells the story of a group of people of all nationalities, religions, and backgrounds who arrive at former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz to take part in a retreat. During the weeklong stay, the group plans to meditate and pray as well as to take all their meals and to sleep in the buildings once occupied by Nazi officers. "It's less grim than it sounds," Nelson says of the novel. "There's much more thoughtful spiritualism.... [I]t's a really strong portrait of these people and spirituality."
