The Shipping News (A. Proulx) 1994

perfect book for my current state of mind, affairs, being.

about what being dead means; unconditional love versus obssession; how kids could be; the mystery of history and the excitement and then dread of finally learning one's roots;
how life could still be funny in spite of it being interspersed with infinitesimal (or devasting - depending on who's point of view or at which point of your existence) tragedies;
what it feels like to laugh out loud at a joke so corny you wonder a second later why it prompted you to do so;
about dark secrets and the past - and the difference between accepting them and letting them affect your relationships, thoughts, attitude. of choosing who you want them to be privvy to;
boats, ships and other vessels, fish, fishing, fishermen, life on the coasts of Newfoundland, newswriting, running a paper;
reading about other people's opinion of Canada;
starting over, taking on new responsibilities, and the dawning amazement that you are still learning new things despite a "here we go again" feeling.

not necessarily in that order, but as close as i dare to hope. highly recommended. it being a pullitzer winner should help convince that it will not disappoint, at the least.