The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman (22)

The Imperfectionists is arranged in short stories, which is getting pretty common in novels this year, about people who read or work at an international newspaper headquartered in Rome. I know very little about newspapers and reporting since I get my news from Infomania and Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, so I read the more general theme - the intersection of work and personal life. The various characters offer perspectives on office politics, a job's effect on marriage, hating a job but never leaving, and becoming useless in your career.

It's smooth and readable but not mindless and certainly not light or fun. As the book continues, there is a steady decline in the ratio of humor to depressing misfortune. Short chapters allow for a workday or nap in the sun to interrupt the story. Rachman writes well and honestly about people. Even if the reader has never traveled internationally or had any experience with journalism, there are characters from life in the story. Just don't pick up this book if you're in the mood for optimism. Even the epilogue is disheartening.