The novel’s events unfold over a single weekend—from the evening of Friday to the morning of Monday. During that time, the hero manages to celebrate his birthday, receive the best gifts of his life, ruthlessly tear an old love out of his heart, fall in love again (with an unfamiliar girl after two hours of phone conversation), fall out of love again, and fall in love a third time—now for good. In addition, the hero smokes a lot, feels that life hasn’t worked out, and steals sweets from a small Italian shop.