Positive Kirkus The author masterfully builds hand-wringing anticipation of the fateful evening despite having already revealed its shape. In the end, what Be Mine reminds us of is what our instincts always knew: that what will survive of us is love.\ In one sense, the inevitable grinding-down of Paul’s illness gives it a built-in pathos, resonance and sense of finality - but there’s a surprise in store that pins the story firmly to our times, while retaining a universal compassion. It’s the challenge of a writer’s life to know how to end a magnificent series of books like this. In true Updikean fashion, Frank gives the mundane its beautiful due, and his narrative - which meanders as his life has - goes back and forward, from here to there and round again, resulting in a book to sit back and wallow in, driven by characters as much as by plot. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T
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