Midday News: Brownsville Precinct Will Turn into Housing, A Quirky Auction in Chinatown, and a Firefighter Speak Out on Mental Health Amid Rising Wildfires

Set in New York City in 2000 and 2001, the novel follows an unnamed protagonist who, despite her privileged life as a young, beautiful, and wealthy Columbia graduate, feels deeply disconnected and depressed. She embarks on a year-long quest to 'reset' her life by extensively using sleeping pills prescribed by a lax psychiatrist. The narrative delves into her past, including childhood traumas, her job at an art gallery, and her complex relationships, particularly with her best friend Reva. The book explores themes of mental health, alienation, and the search for meaning in a world that seems devoid of it. The story culminates with the protagonist's awakening just before the 9/11 attacks, which serves as a jarring wake-up call to her new reality.