The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg

This is one of those stories that sounds so small and colorless and really depressing when trying to explain what it is about. However, this is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

From the back cover: "Bette Nolan moves to a small town after the death of her husband to try to begin anew. Pursuing a dream of a different kind of life, she is determined to find pleasure in her simple daily routines. Among those who help her in both expected and unexpected ways are the ten-year-old boy next door, three wild women friends from her college days, a twenty-year-old who is struggling to find his place in the world, and a handsome man who is ready for love.

In this rich and deeply satisfying novel, a resilient woman embarks upon an unforgettable journey of adventure, self-discovery, and renewal and comes to appreciate the solace found in ordinary pleasures."

So, it sounds awful right? This poor woman loses her soulmate and has to move on with her life. But it is not awful, it is a beautiful story about this graceful, strong woman who has promised her husband that she will live after he is gone. She isn't perfect, she is sad and grieving but little by little, day by day she enjoys whatever she can. I thought it was a remarkable, inspiring, and beautifully written story.