One of my absolute favorite books, ever! Completely not my type; I'll read Palanichuck, Hornsby, maybe, otherwise it's usually either Gaiman, Alice Walker, or early 1900s literature. I would've never read it but for the fact that Penn Gillette wrote it, so I checked it out from the library. As soon as I finished it, I turned back to page 1 and read it again. When I turned it back in, I immediately bought out all the copies from a bookstore and have been giving them out ever since. I read it about every 5 years or so and anytime I reach a nexus point in my life. It keeps me grounded.