Julian is an elderly portrait artist who once enjoyed a famous career. Julian’s life is turned upside down when his wife Mary leaves him, forcing him into a depression. His survival tactic is to become a hermit; he lets go of his social life and holes himself into his home. He is also a creative spinner of the truth; it is revealed at the end of the novel that he lied about his wife Mary dying. For Julian, it is easier to create fiction than to confront the ugly layers of truth, particularly when he is responsible for them.

Julian is the impetus for the rest of the novel. Julian starts “The Authenticity Project” and inspires his readers of the green notebook to consider the value of vulnerability. Ironically, Julian has a hard time being fully vulnerable, but this doesn’t take away from his role as the leader of the project. Julian is easily forgiven his flaws because he is a larger-than-life character. His physicality is characterized by his eclectic fashion and sparkling personality. It is hard for characters not to admire him, even when they see how dishonest he can be. Julian dies just as the other characters in the novel start new chapters of their lives.