Ageing

The theme of ageing is explored through both Grace’s personal transformation and Alberto’s acceptance of his mortality. The novel portrays ageing as a process of change rather than simply decline, showing that life can still hold meaning and joy even in later years. However, it does not romanticize ageing, as it also acknowledges the inevitability of physical decline and death. Through Grace’s journey of rediscovering purpose and pleasure in life, and Alberto’s decision to embrace his mortality rather than seek an artificial extension of his existence, the novel offers a nuanced exploration of what it means to grow older.

At the beginning of the novel, Grace is weighed down by grief and guilt, feeling as though her life is effectively over. She views herself as someone with little left to contribute, existing rather than truly living. Her decision to travel to Ibiza...