Autumn is a story about a 101-year-old man Daniel Gluck and a 32-year-old Elisabeth Demand’s friendship. Daniel is a neighbour and Elisabeth’s mom disapproves of the closeness. They both have been friends ever since Elisabeth was eight. Elisabeth is an art lecturer at London University.  A major part of the book is about the pop artist PAULINE BOTY. Pauline is the subject of Elisabeth’s thesis for graduation. I think Elisabeth takes up art at college because of Daniel. The conversations between the two of them are very interesting and if I had such a neighbour, making me think along those lines, probably, I would have chosen art at the college level too. I enjoyed their discussions thoroughly. We can’t give a name to their friendship, but Daniel dotingly takes care of Elisabeth. Their friendship is true to the quote mentioned in the book and I love it: “THE LIFELONG FRIENDS, WE SOMETIMES WAIT A LIFETIME FOR THEM”. Even when Daniel is admitted to a hospital, everybody easily assumes that Elisabeth is his granddaughter. There is a scene in which he makes her imagine a painting by describing every detail of the painting, I found this tête-à-tête very sweet. She looks out to him at any moment: when she cries or when she is happy.
As a parent sometimes we fear when our child talks a lot to somebody. But Daniel is a very sweet lovable character who makes many things in life interesting for Elisabeth by making her think on different lines, making her imagine, teaching her about different perspectives, and introducing her to a world of fabulous books and kindling her interest in it.
The novel doesn’t move linearly but instead goes back and forth in time. It’s a post-Brexit novel and it also portrays unrest, an apprehensive feeling, and varied views among people.
Overall, a brilliant read, and I recommend it to everyone.