In A How Pretty Town, our protagonist is an active octogenarian who likes to walk the streets of his hometown of Edmonds, Washington. He's a privileged white man, a competitor still trying to prove himself, a rationalist opposed to what he regards as magical thinking, and a man trying to make sense of and come to terms with his life. He has no urge to commemorate his 80th birthday by skydiving or riding a camel. In the days that remain to him,...