I research and write about happiness, so every year before Jan. 1, I ask people, “What resolutions will you make this year?” With reliable frequency, people tell me, “I want to read more.” Perhaps ...

In Monica Wood’s rich new novel, “How to Read a Book,” death, prison and poetry become the catalyst for new beginnings. By Helen Simonson Helen Simonson is the author of “Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand” ...