A Long Way Down - Nick Hornby
On New Year's Eve, four people meet on the roof of Topper's House in London with every intention to jump to their death. They did not plan to meet one another. It just happened that they all planned to commit suicide at the same place at the same time. After a series of misadventures, they mutually decide to give life another 90 days. Over time this dysfunctional band help one another find meaning and purpose in life again. Their choice expands from the stark options of "a slow, painful death, or a quick, merciful one" (150). The lonely mother finds community. The bratty teen finds herself. The washed-up talk-show host discovers self-giving service. The frustrated musician finds success as a solo act. All in all, this is an enjoyable romp about the importance of a community - even if nothing more than a community of "despairing sinners" (312) - to accept you as your are, listen to your gripes, and love you to life... no matter how much it hurts.