I loved this book. It has so many metaphors in the story, and the story as a whole is a metaphor. The young man is so irritating and so lovable at the same time. He represents so many people, including myself, in my past and present. The story is cleverly told with just enough action to make it exciting; with touches of romance and humor, so it's hard to put it aside for a good night's sleep and not dream about it. It is, altogether, a marvelous read and one that I gladly recommend to everyone.