In matters of love and friendship, how much can be endured? What might be forgiven? And who - given the inevitable, knotty complications - is desirable still?From such questions, and using all the surprising, sophisticated ingredients of a delightful farce, Julian Barnes has created a tragicomedy of human frailties and needs. Love, Etc. stars three characters introduced a decade ago in Talking It Over - to which this novel has an eerie, freestanding relation. Which is precisely how Stuart feels toward Gillian, his wife before his witty, feckless, former best friend Oliver stole her away. True, he did make a fuss at their subsequent wedding, and spied on them in their French village; but he was agreeable about the divorce, moved to America, remarried briefly, prospered, then returned to London shortly after Oliver and Gillian, avec les enfants, did. Meanwhile, Oliver's artistic ambitions have turned to ashes in his mouth, so it's Gillian supporting the household - until Stuart rejoins them. Read Less