The strange balance between light and dark moods in Nunez's The Friend

Yes, still enjoying through first 4 chapters (1/3 of book) Sigrid Nunez's NBA-winning novel, The Friend, though I'm still not sure what this novel is really about. On one level it's the "heartwarming" story of how this cat-person Manhattanite inherits a Great Dane from her lifelong mentor/friend/fellow-writer, who died in a suicide (and to whom the novel, in 2nd person, is addressed. We see the various expected tribulations: Super warns he must inform the landlord and that she may be ejected from her rent-controlled apartment; dog insists on sleeping in her bed; apartment too small for giant dog, dog brings unwanted attention street, dog growls at her at one point, is dog in mourning? These are the movie-ready elements in this easy-to-read novel. The other aspect is not at all cinematic nor is it expected: The narrator (unnamed) spends a lot (too much?) time lamenting the difficulties of being a writer, including lengthy discussion w/ friend who gave up writing aspirations and became a psychologist and is helping trauma victims - the narrator is drawn into teaching a writing class for women who were abused though sex-slavery and other atrocities. This is the dark center of the novel, and the strange balance between the light-hearted dog story and the dark trauma of these women (and how little writing can really help them) make for the dramatic tension of this novel. I wish there were less self-flagellation and less complaining about how writing alienates one from family and friends, pays so little, reaches so few people - an all-to-common lament, often voiced by successful writers to their students and supposed acolytes. It's still damn good life if you're good enough and fortunate enough to make a living publishing and teaching, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I'd add that there's a huge difference between those who want to "be a writer" and those who want to "write," w/ the latter - a much smaller group - having a much more likely chance for success in the field.