"Mr. Pip" by Lloyd Jones
Jones is an Australian writer who is very much worth keeping an eye on. I was very impressed by this novel. It begins with a light and charming touch that is somewhat reminiscent of the "First Ladies' Detective Agency" series but soon becomes a very serious look at how people react under stress and loss and ends up being more similar to "A Fine Balance" where the human spirit and resiliency triumph over misery.
