First published 1982
The protagonist moves through the stages of his existence, examining what has been, what is, and what might come. Each section reveals different facets of human experience as he recalls childhood moments, confronts his current circumstances, and contemplates the years ahead. The narrative shifts between his recollections of youth and family, his observations of middle age, and his projections into old age and death. Through this structure, the man grapples with the universal questions of meaning, regret, and hope that define a human life. The book captures the weight of accumulated years and the strange mixture of clarity and confusion that comes with looking both backward and forward in time.
Genres: literary-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, adult-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, introspective, non-linear-narrative
Paperback · Bantam Books