Reason to Be

Reason to Be is a poetic and introspective novel following the life of Del Robert, a disenchanted man who has grown passive in his marriage and, feeling unable to relate to those around him, withdrawn. On a night out in Atlanta, a city Del describes as 'in contrast', he meets Carolyn, the mysterious wife of an ambitious professor, at a poor excuse for a speakeasy. Their encounter awakens in Del a longing for change and deeper meaning. As he navigates love, identity, and the outright difficulty of human connection, Del is forced to confront his passive nature and the ways it isolates him from those around him, including himself. Reflective, at times philosophical, and deeply human, R. A. Hinkle's debut is a poignant exploration of relating, self-discovery, and the courage it takes to embrace the everyday present moment.