Depression and Grief

The book invests a lot of time delving into the characteristics of depression and grief and the ways different people react to them. Interestingly, the author never refers directly to depression, but rather all of the elements of the human psyche that cause people to feel out of control and as if there is no hope. As Conrad is slowly but surely putting his demons to rest, he discovers that others have many similar feelings, and that they all handle them differently. He sees that many people suffer deep regret and guilt for the things they have done in the past, and by talking to Dr. Berger and Jeannine about his feelings, he is able to manage his own grief and feel better about himself.

Family Relationships

The relationships in Conrad's family are all over the place. Conrad is convinced that his mother hates him because...