Livre d'Or

Joan Didion's "Year of Magical Thinking" which is about the first year after her husband died (and is ended with the death of her daughter, if I recall, about whom a second book, Blue Nights was written). It comforted me through grieving the loss of a parent, and I think it humanizes the grief of those left behind in such a visceral way.

And Didion is an essayist and chronicler of human nature, so I think she meets all the needs. :)