Being unemployed today is more like an excruciating 1000-page novel than a bad short story.

The unemployment rate held steady last month at 9.7 percent and overall fewer jobs were lost; a good sign, according to many economists. But for those of you who are out of work or about to lose your jobs, the average time you can expect to look for a new position is six months or more. Those are the worst statistics since the 1940s. (more…)