Joy Bergman

Joy Bergman is the character the novel follows most closely. She is an 86-year-old womsn whose husband, Aaron, is dying of cancer and additionally suffers from severe dementia. Even though she is elderly, Joy still works three days a week at a museum in order to cover the family’s bills. She and Aaron have two children, Molly and Daniel.

When Aaron dies, Joy is left lonely and missing the man with whom she spent her life for nearly sixty years. She searches for a place she feels she belongs. Joy does reunite with Karl, an old boyfriend from college, but Joy’s children believe that Karl will take advantage of Joy. Joy convinces her children that she does intend for Karl to take Aaron’s place, but feels he would have wanted her to have companionship.

Karl

Karl is Aaron’s friend from the park. He...