The fifth novel by the writer, telling of beauty, a midlife crisis, illusions, and what the price for getting rid of them might be. The eternal contrast between the North and the South, art and real life, the “strong” and the “thin-skinned.” A story that seems simple at first glance, yet leaves room for both laughter and tears, and even for what appear to be detached reflections. A novel that definitely deserves to be read—and contemplated.