Podcast Summary: New Books Network

Episode: David Giuliano, "The Upending of Wendall Forbes" (Latitude 46, 2025)

Host: Holly Gattery
Guest: David Giuliano
Release Date: November 6, 2025

Overview

In this episode, host Holly Gattery interviews author David Giuliano about his 2025 novel, The Upending of Wendall Forbes, published by Latitude 46. The conversation delves into the inspiration behind the book, its central themes of aging, intergenerational connection, memory, grief, and hope, as well as the unique cast of characters—both human and animal—that populate the story. With warmth and humor, Giuliano reflects on crafting characters, incorporating humor, and balancing serious issues with lightness, offering listeners an intimate look at both his creative process and the heart of the novel.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Genesis of the Story: Aging and Meaning

• Why the novel?
  • Giuliano began writing at age 62, contemplating the later "quarter" of life and what it means to be an elder—not just in age but in attitude and role.
  • Imagined protagonists (Wendell and Ruby) 15-20 years older than himself, grappling with meaning, dignity, and wisdom in aging.

  “At 62, that was the question I was asking: what does it mean, you know, and what gives meaning to growing older and what would give me meaning?” —David Giuliano (04:14)

2. Central Characters: Wendell and Ruby Forbes

• Intertwined Lives

  • Their marriage is portrayed as a character of its own—two distinct individuals with a deep, tender connection shaped by years together.
  • Inspiration from Giuliano’s own long marriage and observations of real older couples.

  “I have been married for a long time… I have some sense of the intertwining of saplings growing into a single tree…” —David Giuliano (07:40)

• Aging and Separation

  • Emotional exploration of older adults whose children and grandchildren have moved away, reflecting broader societal mobility.

  “I think a lot of people will identify with having kids in, you know, South America or Japan or wherever.” —David Giuliano (09:36)

3. Managing a Large & Diverse Cast

• Populating the Story

  • Strangers from various backgrounds (Indigenous Colombian family, sleep consultant, activist teens, animal characters) gather in the Forbes’s home during a blizzard, serving as a microcosm of hope and human connection amid wider despair and isolation.

  “I was gathering characters, strangers who were caught by this blizzard into one place as kind of like a little, a little crucible of light in the midst of all of this darkness.” —David Giuliano (12:29)

• Embracing Quirkiness

  • Giuliano expresses love for quirky, idiosyncratic characters: “I think we’re funny by nature in some ways… funny in a more tender way.” (13:08)

4. Humor, Technology, and Tenderness

• Humor from Technology Gaffes
  • Ruby receives a smartphone to stay connected with her distant son, accidentally livestreams their life on Facebook, including intimate and mundane moments, gaining unexpected followers.
  • This scenario is mined for both humor and poignant observations about generational divides and privacy.

  “She doesn’t realize that she’s... live streaming 247 and she gathers some followers… at the beginning...insomniacs are watching it, finding it comforting to watch these old people sleep.” —David Giuliano (16:26)

• Ethical and Moral Questions
  • The book publicist weighs the ethics of leveraging the accidental stream for publicity versus respecting the couple’s dignity—a scene both comical and thought-provoking.

  “The morality issue is the person who’s been assigned to market Wendell’s writing is asking, you know, can I be sharing this without them knowing and could that happen accidentally?” —David Giuliano (20:05)

5. Faith, Silence, and Listening

• Wendell’s Faith and Vow of Silence

  • Wendell—like Giuliano, a retired United Church minister—adopts a vow of near-silence (perceived as “demanded by the angels”), embodying the elder’s practice of deep listening, openness, and curiosity.

  “One of the characteristics I feel of being a good elder is to listen. And this was kind of a playful way. I had Wendell listening...” —David Giuliano (29:18)

• Gentle, Ecumenical Faith

  • The portrayal of faith is broad, welcoming, and non-dogmatic, resonating even with readers from different religious backgrounds.

  “His faith is what I would consider a very ecumenical kind of faith… as someone who was brought up Muslim, I did not find it… alienating.” —Holly Gattery (27:22)

6. Balancing Seriousness and Lightness

• The book addresses heavy topics—aging, dementia, end-of-life decisions—yet balances these with abundant humor, animal companions, gentle wisdom, and the comforts of community.

  “It talks about very serious issues and existential issues that most of us try to avoid… but also offers us comfort in each other and in community…” —Holly Gattery (32:48)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Aging & Meaning:

  “What does it mean to grow old with dignity, and wisdom, and care?”
  —David Giuliano (04:14)

• On the Realities of Distance and Family:

  "It is a factor of our culture that we're fairly nomadic... work seem[s] to be the determining factor, more so than family relationships."
  —David Giuliano (09:22)

• On Humor in the Face of Technology:

  “There’s this, there’s this morally gray area… It’s like when you’re watching a movie and somebody’s doing something really embarrassing and you have...secondhand embarrassment...”
  —Holly Gattery (15:14)

• On Listening as an Elder:

  “One of the characteristics I feel of being a good elder is to listen.”
  —David Giuliano (29:18)

• Comic Scene—Protest & Smokers:

  “He heads on down to school...with his vow of silence...realizes when the kids go get ushered back in by the principal, that he was just standing with the smokers. And...the protest is a little bit further down. It's just one kid out there protesting. It's hilarious.”
  —Holly Gattery (30:38)

Important Timestamps

• [02:08] — Introduction to guest and book summary
• [04:14] — David Giuliano discusses his inspiration: aging and meaning
• [07:40] — Origins of Wendell and Ruby as characters
• [11:37] — Managing a large ensemble of diverse, quirky characters
• [13:55] — The humor and tenderness of technology mishaps
• [16:16] — Ruby’s accidental Facebook livestream and public reaction
• [23:07] — Author’s reading from the novel: cozy scene after the blizzard
• [27:22] — Discussion of Wendell’s silence, faith, and elderhood
• [30:38] — Anecdote about Wendell at the protest with high school students
• [32:48] — Book’s overall tone: healing, serious yet comforting
• [33:55] — Sneak peek at the next novel set in 26 Mile House
• [35:47] — Backstory on the novel’s title and working with editor Randall Perry

Conclusion

This episode offers deep, engaging insights into The Upending of Wendall Forbes and the creative mindset of David Giuliano. Through laughter and pathos, the conversation highlights the tenderness of growing old, the significance of listening, and the enduring importance of community—even when it’s formed under the most unexpected and blizzard-filled circumstances. The story, like the conversation, is both heartwarming and thought-provoking—a recommended read for any season.