New books to read: Why is everything sad?

Last night, I knew I couldn't read another page of The Museum of Innocence. The women, I hope, are safely away from the clutches of the self-centered, obsessed Kemal -- so far. There's still half a book to go. The question is will I finish it? The answer, at least immediately, is not right now.

So I went to the library to see what from the Washington Post's list was on the shelves. Something, I hoped, would be happy.

I found three books from the list, including Terry Teachout's biography of Louis Armstrong, Pops, which I've heard good things about (although Armstrong's life was said to be sad, too.) I hadn't planned on reading any of the non-fiction but I'm learning to play Armstrong's Wonderful World on the piano so I couldn't resist. Besides, who could resist the photo of Pops, a knowing smile on his warm face, a dapper red tie with his tuxedo and his horn tucked under his arm?

Also on my coffee table for the next couple of weeks:

• Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult: the story of a family coping with a cheerful child's horrible birth defect and considering a wrongful birth lawsuit. I have to admit when I couldn't sleep last night, this didn't help. I became completely absorbed by these charming characters and read nearly half the book. I stopped for breakfast. Sad story but all loveable characters. Take that, Kemal! You can love without destroying the people around you (including yourself.)
• Border Songs by Jim Lynch: A Border Patrol man (on the Canadian border) who likes bird-watching. Maybe this one won't be sad.

I don't like having to steel myself to open a book. Yet it's something I've had to do with every book so far. I have to admit, however, they've all delighted me in different ways. The narrators of Stalin Epigram, the weather in A Gate at the Stairs, the young women of The Museum of Innocence as well as the descriptions of Istanbul which mix exotic detail with the smells and sounds of a small town with flashes of terrorism--not bombs going off but comments that people live with a sliver of fear that a bomb may go off and ruin their day.

So I'll keep reading. So much good writing even if it may be sad.