Widow: A Survival Guide for the First Year

by Joanna Romer

This book takes new widows on a journey from the first difficult days of widowhood through 12 months of self-discovery. Along the way, you will learn how to handle emotional challenges such as suddenly being alone; how to tackle painful tasks including cleaning out hubby's closet; and how to re-enter the world again in terms of work, personal development and socializing. Guidelines are provided for each new phase, making this book a practical self-help book you can use for re-creating your life.

239 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 19, 2012

About the author

Joanna Romer is the author of WIDOW: A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR THE FIRST YEAR; THE WIDOWER'S GUIDE TO A NEW LIFE (nominated for a Book-of-the-Year award); CREATIVE AGING: A BABY BOOMER'S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL LIVING (co-authored with Cheryl Vassiliadis); and DIVORCED! SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES FOR SINGLES OVER FORTY. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Mademoiselle and other publications. With her late husband, Jack Milton, she wrote and produced the 1972 feature film, "Please Stand By". Romer taught communications at colleges and universities in Florida and New York for 16 years, and currently lives in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Reviews

[Arlena · Rating 5 out of 5]

By: Joanna Romer
Published By: Msi Press
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:

"Widow: A Survival guide for the First Year" by Romer presented some very good advice for any women who is or has experienced be a widow. This advice to so well needed especially during the year after the death of a husband. I liked how this author presented her own story of being found alone and 'uses her emotional and occasionally humorous story as the backbone for this self-help guide that takes you from your first Christmas alone to making household repairs.'

I liked this quote...

"Remember, your husband died--you didn't."

From the book: "Widow" there will be many issues that will include: "hints for those first holidays, and birthdays; ways to nurture and take care of yourself; loneliness, survivor guilt, money, cleaning out the closet, making future plans; and later on, how to join Face book, and use an iPhone; and whether to get a job, accept assistance, comfort and advice from others, reading, prayer and meditation and less not forget time for personal strength and dreams." There will be even more insightful information that will help you day by day.

So whether you are a widow or know someone who has lost a husband, I would recommend this read to you as a excellent guide and read.

[Story of Choice · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I am not a widow and am unfamiliar with comp titles that may better address the subject, I imagine Widow will comfort and constructively steer readers who are overwhelmed by grief and otherwise at a loss for direction or frame of reference. Clearly written for widows, creative reading also reveals a useful resource for anyone undergoing difficult transition, particularly those facing new and unexpected independence.

Joanna Romer's advice is that of a well-meaning and flawed (read: real) friend: much of it useful, some of it unique to her own tastes, but generally supportive and encouraging. It's easy enough to use what works for you and disregard the rest. For example, retail therapy is not an appropriate suggestion for all readers, but encouraging self-inventory with the simple power of list making has wide appeal.

I agree with the reviewer who expressed surprise that this is not an Advanced Reader's Copy because of the typos. Neither the packaging nor the writing is particularly sophisticated, but the book's practical nature minimizes the importance of aesthetics. Joanna Romer offers a port in a storm.