Anonymous wrote:Search by Michelle Huneven -- A wonderfully nuanced and funny novel about a restaurant critic who serves on her Unitarian Universalist church's search committee for a new senior minister. Huneven hits every note of what it's like to be part of a theologically liberal faith community where (almost) everybody really has their heart in the right place. Extra points here because the story also features the main character's happy marriage of many years and sustaining, though sometimes challenging, intergenerational friendships. Plus, Huneven, who was a restaurant critic and food writer for the LA Times includes recipes -- Pledge Drive Chicken, anyone?

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride -- Another beautiful story of a community that comes together to protect the weakest among them against oppression and cruelty. The book is also something of a heist story and is hilariously funny. Again, I loved the portrait of friendships-- some improbable, but rich in loyalty and love, and of marriages in which each party believes they are the lucky one. McBride also weaves in some klezmer and jazz history so vividly that a reader's toes will start tapping.