A vivid conclusion to the trilogy. I admire Hall’s commitment to take us into the tangled mess of the human condition and into its heights of awareness, humor and generosity – at times an almost gothic tale of grasping at shadows and at others a sort of giddy romp through life’s most thrilling possibilities. I especially responded to Arden’s tendency to blurt truths and to trust his own youthful understanding of human nature when confronting the entrenched, obstructionist viewpoints of more seasoned characters. Colorful or severe, each character gets their treatment as a unique creature, contributing their gifts or danger to the world of this story. Through the rollicking ups and downs, rude discoveries and nakedness, the protagonist manages to blossom in a way that feels like a birth. Exciting, entertaining, moving and inspiring. Yay!