The Valley of the Bones

The  Valley of the Bones is book 7 of A Dance to the Music of Time.  Pretty much everything I've said about the previous ones is still true.  Gorgeous writing, meandering plot, and all.  This novel chronicles the beginning of WWII.  Jenkins is assigned to an army unit, but doesn't see any fighting.  Unlike previous novels, this one has almost an entirely new cast of characters.  There's one extended scene where Nick goes on leave and meets with family and friends, but that's it.