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

About the Book

The daughter of beloved novelist Carol Shields ("The Stone Diaries") delivers her first novel--a bittersweet and comic story on the unexpected power of friendships and family, and the rewards of a more intense relationship with the world.

From the Back Cover

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