Late in the Day

Late in the Day by Brett Shapiro is a terrific novel, and one that anyone will read — with tears in their eyes — as they follow three elderly characters caught between the painful now and eternity. Hank Bauer misses his wife, Marilyn, and her expertise in cooking the best pizza...and now ''he couldn’t remember whether it was a special kind or a special brand or both...'' He hopes to make it like her someday. Seth Erlich still thinks about Yoni and how they would proudly carry on like any couple that endures, but she is not there anymore. Honey Cavanaugh misses creating memories with Glen. Honey, Hank, and Seth find themselves lonely, thanks to divorce, separation, and death. What they have in common is the solitary walk along the Florida coastline and their deep sense of loneliness. At first, they just want to share the walk. Then they begin to forget their solitude and seek each other. In their advanced age, and with death beckoning, can they find meaning in an unusual friendship and companionship?

This book has more than anything a reader can hope for — a penetrating look at old age, the power and beauty of friendship, and, perhaps, the reconnection with humanity that redefines one's purpose. Shapiro shows readers the beauty of human connection and explores the vagaries of friendship and the light and energy that pulls humanity forward through shared experience. This is a novel about old age, imaginative, and filled with creative moments that indicate a healthy path to walking into the latest hour of life. The characters in Late in the Day are fully drawn and elaborately written. The author has the ability to penetrate the depths of the human psyche and examine the deepest fears that characters have as they advance toward the night of their life. The writing is gorgeous, lyrical, and infused with realism. The humanity of the characters shines through the narrative with brilliance. You will be pulled in from the outset of this tale, immersed in the world of the characters, and fascinated by the details that take a life of their own in Brett Shapiro's work. In the heart of this book is the undisputable place of human intercourse — creative, healing, and invigorating. In turn tender and thought-provoking; you’ll love Shapiro’s beguiling prose, the finesse in humor,  the exceptionally written characters, and the dazzling portrait of companionship at the dusk of life.