sounds very interesting to me. The Conversation is a departure from the previous novels -- it's more of a meditation on life than anything else.   It's a beautifully presented book, with a sumptuous dustjacket with gilt lettering, expensive paper and gorgeous saffron coloured cover boards.   It feels lovely to hold it in your hands, especially as Brooks conjures up a sensual meal enjoyed in the warmth of an Italian evening, far from everday life.  An older man and a young woman are dining alone in a restaurant in Trieste, and a gust of wind blows his papers on to her table.  They end up dining together.  From this unlikely premise, a long discursive conversation ensues, in which they share the most intimate of thoughts.  The book is structured around the courses of the meal, affording the opportunity for the characters to share their opinions on culture, philosophy, history, and art, as well as on their personal experiences of love.  These two seem like soulmates drawn together by the Fates because it's the kind of conversation one would love to have with a Beloved. It's because they are strangers who will never meet again, that they feel able to talk so openly about all kinds of taboo subjects including suicide, sexual experience, and betrayal. 'But this is crazy!' 'Crazy?  I don't understand.' 'To be telling you all this, a complete stranger.' 'Because I am a complete stranger, and you can tell me with impunity.  We just talked about that.  I mean,