Life's Little Difficulties — France Daigle

In this delightful novel, both humankind's smallest problems and largest questions occupy the same delightful stage. Terry's on-and-off job allows him to take care of his baby son, Etienne, while wife Carmen works as a waitress and aspiring manager of a popular pool lounge. Terry loves the I Ching and has been consulting his oracle daily. Sometimes he also visits his friend Zed, who is converting an old building into lofts and a cultural center. As the novel unfolds, unexpected possibilities develop between Terry, Carmen, and Zed. All of this activity stirs up the three friends' spirits, as well as opening up difficult questions, and more than a little anxiety. Everything they've taken for granted in their lives is suddenly called into question, even the language they speak in front of Etienne. Life's Little Difficulties raises big issues that suddenly, in the end, seem solvable.