Messenger (Farewell Olympus) delivers a thoughtful, impressive story of work and marriage as seen through the eyes of an increasingly unmoored English lit professor. Stephen Ketley and his wife, Sarah, have been married 10 years, but Sarah has become distant while working on her latest academic treatise. This isn’t really surprising to Stephen, because he’s also an academic, and he has been distracted by his own scholarly pursuits at a university in Nottingham. However, after the couple celebrates their 10th anniversary with friends—rather than alone—Stephen senses something is amiss. As he moves through his days, he explores his feelings about his wife and work and spends time with his college-bound stepdaughter, his quirky mother, and his wayward sister. Feeling out of sorts, Stephen notices that he’s losing an alarming amount of weight, and questions of physical and mental health and his search for contentment threaten to drive him to distraction. The highlight of the book is the fluid narration, as it moves through Stephen’s thoughts on everything from his empathy for Hamlet’s troubles to his genuine concern for his stepdaughter’s well-being. This ruminative story will satisfy those seeking a deep dive into meaning in life and how to pursue it. (BookLife)