An old, new, possibly Austenish book.

Surprisingly good beginning, making the case for an Austen like modern life.  I found myself unable to put it down despite nothing really happening.  In the end, mostly nothing happens, but it's a great nothing. 

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

The Alchemist reminded me of this earlier work, which is better as a book than as a movie.  That is saying a lot, since the movie is very hot, but you can't translate the sense of the book's ethereal nature into a movie.  The movie is a tragedy, but the book somehow avoids that sense.