Loss is central to the human experience.

Loss is central to the human experience. Loss comes in many forms, such as heartbreak to death. Loss is one of the few things guaranteed in life, and it affects people in immense ways.

When the novel begins, Katrin is losing Eric to cancer. When Eric dies, Katrin is devastated. She feels as if her life no longer has meaning in it without Eric. This propels her to write a short biography of Eric’s life. In turn, this will put her in touch with a large number of people who knew Eric. She will hear their stories about their connections to Eric..

In addition to Katrin, other women suffer loss through their relationships with Eric. Monique, Eric's Parisian girlfriend, also endures a loss in the novel when she and Eric break up. Monique's love for Eric haunts her for...