Bellman & Black

Speaking of death (aren't we always?) "Bellman & Black" by Diane Setterfield is a beautiful story about one man's relationship with death. This is a quiet tale about a boy who unexpectedly kills a rook and begins a journey with death that eventually leads him to open a spectacular department store that sells only mourning accessories.

Unlike many books that want to paint a picture of the author's version of what life-after-death is like, this story deals more with our relationship with the idea of death. It's the kind of book that after you read the last page, you close the book and sit silently for a few minutes just letting the words float around you.