Ptolemy Grey

Ptolemy Grey is the main character of the novel. In the narrative present, Ptolemy is 91 years old. He lives alone in an apartment in Los Angeles, California. His first wife was Bertie and his second wife was Sensia. Sensia was Ptolemy’s true love. They met when he was 45 and she was 26 and married to a man named Ezra. Shortly thereafter, she ended her marriage with Ezra and became involved with Ptolemy. Twenty-two years later, Sensia died in her sleep after suffering a stroke. In the wake of her death, Ptolemy struggled to remain grounded in reality, allowing his grief to overcome him. Although he has children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren and great-grandnieces and -nephews, Ptolemy spends the majority of his time alone. Reggie, one of Ptolemy’s great-grandnephews, is the only member of the family who visits and spends time with Ptolemy.

Then one...