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Bob Comet is 72, retired, and used to being alone. He lives among books in a mint-green house in Portland. One morning, he helps a confused older woman return to her senior centre. He then volunteers there to give his days more purpose. The people he meets bring new friendships into his life.

The novel looks back at the past behind Bob’s quiet manner. As a child, he ran away as World War II drew to a close. Later, he lost the woman he loved to his best friend. His library work gave him joy and a sense of worth. Retirement leaves him seeking new ties and answers about his life.

Patrick deWitt blends sadness with humour in this novel about loss, friendship, and growing old. Bob’s memories show how old hurts can shape a whole life. Other characters revisit their own defining moments through stories and sharp remarks. The focus stays on the depth of a life that seems plain from outside. Books, small pleasures, and human bonds offer comfort without erasing past pain. Mihaela Sofonea translated this edition from English.