Well, I just devoured Happiness Economics by Shari Lapena. This book is one that came highly recommended by my favourite local, independent book store...but I couldn't bring myself to buy something quite so unknown. Even though my local library didn't have it, they were very obliging and ordered it in for me (such a great system--I am practically on a first name basis with the Acquisition person). Touted as a great Canadian lit, I was a bit worried Happiness Economics would be dark (for some reason I associate Canadian literature with being dark--which I blame on reading A Cure for Death By Lightining at 15). After reading a good chunk of The Tiger, I was very much in the mood for something lighter and a bit closer to home. Afterall, Russian environmental and interpersonal politics are fun, but not light.
Now, back to the book at hand. Set in 2008 Toronto (note the timing--impending market doom), this book tells the story of a lost poet, his over-achieving wife, and the children caught in between their parents' struggles. Enter Lily White, muse to poet and nemisis to wife, who will start a chain reaction of change in everyone's life.
Good read, solid read--nothing too heavy but still not fluff--I read it in a day (while baby slept) and found myself living day-to-day with the characters. Also, it made me want to read poetry (which I rarely do).
Recommend? Yes. Best book ever? Not quite. A glimpse into the problems of division of art and the marketplace? Absolutely.
Enjoy!
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