The Sad Truth about Happiness - by Anne Giardini (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

A beautiful and affecting novel -- bittersweet and comic -- on the elusive nature of happiness

Maggie is in her early thirties, gainfully employed, between relationships, and ready for a change. But when she takes a quiz in a magazine that promises to predict the date of a person's death, she's shocked to learn she's going to die before her next birthday unless she can somehow discover contentment in life. What ensues is a quirky and satisfying journey in pursuit of true happiness, a quest that leads to unexpected joys and perceptions.

Review Quotes

"A fully formed new voice, poignant, funny and acute." -- Fay Weldon, author of Wicked Women

"Charming...a pleasantly entertaining journey." -- Publishers Weekly

"A touching read...[that] may remind us of Carol Shields in its sensitive handling of rich characters and domestic detail." -- Library Journal (starred review)

"Giardini appreciates the difference between happy enough and deeper satisfaction, and parses these nuances with an appealingly light touch." -- New York Newsday

"Giardini's peripatetic style reveals an attractive curiosity about the infinite variety in people's lives, both happy and sad." -- Washington Post Book World

"A confident voice and a luminous lyrical prose style." -- Boston Globe

"Giardini deserves applause for her debut effort. She clearly demonstrates a talent for distilling moments that touch the human heart." -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"First-time novelist Anne Giardini delivers a powerful story [and] a character for the ages." -- BookPage