It's apparently been 10 years since I read this, but I do remember walking away from this book with nothing but horrible existential dread about getting old and dying. And that's it.
The one person I know who liked this book competes in dragonboat racing. So he likes rowing, and after listening to this episode, I now wonder if he also has the soul of a poet...
http://www.frowl.org/worstbestsellers...