As death approaches, his room becomes a surreal stage for a reckoning. Crowds of visitors arrive—both worldly and otherworldly—including birds swarming the room, a black calf on a love seat, and a man from a drought-ravaged village. While spirits of Boone’s past associates and family appear to either judge or praise him, Jill finds herself distracted by a wedding occurring next door, which triggers bittersweet memories of her own life before her tragic death. Through this “careening” narrative, Saunders explores profound questions about capitalism, climate change, personal responsibility, and the possibility of absolution in the face of death