Ok, I'm starting the list with a serious downer. This book doesn't really celebrate her relationship with her departed husband as much as it documents her grieving process as only someone like Joan Didion could.

Swinging from one extreme to another, this book is a full-on celebration of just how wonderfully lucky and inspired Calvin Trillin felt to be able to spend his life with his recently departed wife.

I'll admit, I haven't read this one but when I asked around for suggestions to flesh out this list, many people mentioned this book. A trusted friend, Dervala, says:

"There's lots of joy in this book. It's a clear-eyed and unsentimental look at sickness and death, but a good chunk of it is the story of their unusual marriage and how they lived and worked."

Beyond that, I don't want to tell you any more because I don't want to look it up. I want to read this book some day and I think it will have that much more impact if I go into it clean.

And lastly, a book that's a perfect balance between love, grief and healing. I don't want to say too much about this one but if you're a fan of popular music at all — pop, rock, disco, grunge... and you'd enjoy reading a short book full of raw and honest emotion, then I highly recommend this book.