An encounter between two socially disparate and incompatible women is precipitated by their separate interests in an Ayn Rand-like writer-philosopher figure, bringing their parallel histories, linked preoccupations and complementary psyches into unexpected focus, and instigating new phases in both lives.
My impatience with this disturbing convergent narrative and its heavy, sensual language mounted and finally evaporated as I realised that reading it had given me one of the benefits de Botton claims for literature in How Proust Can Change Your Life; expanding my notion of 'normal' thoughts, feelings and behaviour, entirely to the good.
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