Norman Bray is a middle-aged, underemployed actor who perhaps is self-deluded as a professional skill and defence … or perhaps is just self-deluded. As career, home and relationships all unravel, events from his past start to bubble up for re-examination. As circumstances change more and more rapidly for Norman, does he learn and change personally? It’s hard to tell as this acerbic, at times funny, at times troubling story unfolds. It’s that “hard to tell” element that is the most authentic and lifelike aspect of this at times infuriating but always intriguing, surprisingly affecting book.