The young hero of this novel lives in a state of perpetual indecision as his grandfather dies, his grandmother not only moves to a nursing home but also goes back to school, his father retires, and his mother goes to Russia, all in quick succession. Something has taken hold of his family. What else can he do but prepare for his glorious future as a writer behind the reception desk of a small hotel in the depths of the Parisian night? When everything changes, even what once seemed unshakeable, one ultimately needs something to hold onto. A woman, for example. But where to find one? At a funeral, perhaps? Hardly. In the end, everything turns out differently. David Foenkinos' new novel is a touching, gripping, and humorous book about aging and the enduring power of love and life.