Seize the Day

About “Seize the Day”

Tommy Wilhelm is a man in his mid-forties living temporarily in the Hotel Gloriana on the Upper West Side of New York City. The hotel is where his father has lived for years, and Tommy feels out of place from the start. He is surrounded by elderly residents, and throughout the novel, he remains isolated despite being in crowded spaces. The story follows one significant day in Tommy's life, which serves as a turning point or "day of reckoning" for him. The novella explores his internal struggles and sense of displacement. It is written by Saul Bellow.