Hi :) so i just finished the book, and not too sure i understood the ending. in the last lines where norman dials rol henningers office on his phone for karina, he's sure that it will make things so much better i really dont get the link on how this would help her or make her feel good in anyway can anyone explain please? PS funniest book!|||Hi Lipstick, I'm the author of Norman Bray in the Performance of His Life. I modeled the character after my father, who was all the things Norman is 鈥?alcoholic, talented, narcissistic, well-meaning, irresponsible. You're right, the ending is somewhat ambiguous. But what's happening, when Norman presses the button to call Henninger, is that Norman is deciding to take the job after all. All his life, and all through the book, he's tried to avoid the normal responsibilities we all take for granted 鈥?the need for an income in order to pay the mortgage, etc. All this in order to pursue his "art" which frankly he has let go fallow. He's an artist, these days, only in his mind. But he sees that Karina is something different, she is an artist trying, against real pain in her knee and in her marriage, to pursue his art. Norman decides he wants to help her, and the only thing he can do is give her a safe place, away from her husband, to allow her to pursue her art. So that means keeping the house. And he realizes that means taking the job Henninger found him. So in that moment he gives in and calls Henninger. He tells himself that he will have to "make the best of a bad situation" but pats himself on the back, like a good narcissist, saying he's really good at that. Hope that helps! Glad you enjoyed the book. Trevor Cole

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