Read in May

THE BEST:
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World
Part travelogue, part psychological study, part philosophical journey, Weiner's book narrates his determined quest to find and experience the world's happiest places. Many a common-sensical expectation is turned upside down in this funny and instructive narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed it and offer my unreserved recommendation.

Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction
David Sheff chronicles his son's meth addiction and the way it pervaded the lives of his loved ones. The story of Nic, his beautiful boy, is by turns heartbreaking and hopeful, and is told with honesty and professionalism. An eye-opening and terrifying account of every parent's nightmare.

THE REST:
The Miracle at Speedy Motors
The latest installment in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. Mma Ramotswe is intelligent, resourceful, loyal, and good natured. She is also perhaps the kindest character in fiction. The books in this series never fail to bring a smile to my face.

When Science Goes Wrong
Twelve interesting stories of scientific mishaps and failures from varied disciplines.

The Third Angel
An intense and emotional novel with subtly layered and interwoven stories of three women and life-shaping experiences.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
A multicultural, multigenerational romp of family curse and national doom, liberally sprinkled with wit, humor, and unforgettable characters.

The Commoner
This fictional story is based on Empress Michiko and Crown Princess Masako of Japan. Our narrator, Haruko, is the first commoner to marry into the imperial family, and through her, we come to understand the many challenges and sacrifices of a commoner entering into the rarefied and ritualized world of court life.

Fire in the Blood
From the perspective of middle age, our narrator, Silvio, unfolds stories of youthful passion, the 'fire in the blood' that fuels love and betrayal across two decades. This manuscript, only recently discovered, was one of the final works of Némirovsky, who died in Auschwitz.

Every Last Cuckoo
Seventy-five year old Sarah has recently lost her husband of fifty years, and the novel follows her as she deals with grief and finds new meaning and direction in life. It is rare to find a book written from the perspective of an elderly woman. Sarah is a vibrant and memorable protagonist and the story is joyful and positive.

I Was Told There’d Be Cake
A collection of well penned and very amusing essays. Crosley shines a knowing light on the quirky and the humorous in episodes from the stage of the twenty-something American life.

Unaccustomed Earth
Indian immigrants and the children they raise in America take center stage in each of the wonderful stories in this collection. The fully drawn characters struggle to reconcile generational and cultural clashes, and the complex bonds of family. I particularly liked the Hema and Kaushik trio that closes out the book.

Change of Heart
An engrossing page-turner with complex issues including capital punishment and religious freedom. Death row inmate Shay Bourne wants to donate his heart to the sister of the girl he was convicted of murdering fifteen years ago. The first-person narrative switches off among several key characters. Although I had figured out many of the plot 'surprises' long before they occurred, I still quite enjoyed the book.