Nora Webster by Colm Toibin

Toibin is a master at empathy for his characters.  His pacing is so deliberate, so thought out, that not a word is wasted.  The novel opens with Nora Webster dealing with the kindness of neighbours, showing up with words of sympathy for the recent death of her husband, a man who took centre place in her life.  She still must worry about money, her four children and how to find meaning for her life under the scrutiny and judgement of her neighbours.  This she does slowly and successfully, breaking free from the constraints of her time and place - mid sixties in a small town in Ireland.