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De Weduwen van 11 September
"Nu waren die drie vrouwen in mijn leven gekomen en gingen wij elkaar helpen. Dat was van meet af aan een onuitgesproken belofte aan elkaar."
- Ann
Dinsdag 11 september 2001:
Vier jonge vrouwen verliezen hun man bij de aanslagen op de Twin Towers. Ze zijn allen in de dertig en net getrouwd. In de daaropvolgende maanden delen de vier - Ann, Claudia, Julia en Patricia - hun ervaringen met verdriet en met verlies. Er groeit een speciale en hechte band die hen op weg helpt naar een nieuw leven…
- Ann
Dinsdag 11 september 2001:
Vier jonge vrouwen verliezen hun man bij de aanslagen op de Twin Towers. Ze zijn allen in de dertig en net getrouwd. In de daaropvolgende maanden delen de vier - Ann, Claudia, Julia en Patricia - hun ervaringen met verdriet en met verlies. Er groeit een speciale en hechte band die hen op weg helpt naar een nieuw leven…
397 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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519 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
February 19, 2008
I love this book! It is one of those books that just stays with me.
December 31, 2007
I will be honest i thought i would not be able to review this book because in the first few chapters i did not like it and i thought how can i say anything bad about anyone who came through 9-11 but intially i thought these young career oriented women, finacially stable who had been married just a short time when they had this Terrible loss. maybe a little self indulgent? well I could not be more wrong. in their words these women took me through their loss and their hope. they made me see they not only lost their husbands that day but their plans for future like children. they lost their history together. they had memories every where..the torment of the anniversaries, the calls identifying their loved ones, the satifaction of finding people with commen minds.. finding love and friendship while never forgetting. I think remembering that each day could be our last.By the end of the book i loved them i grieved for never have knowing the people they loved, and I cheer for them. very good read. it vividly brings back the sadness of sept 11 if you have a hard time with this you may not want to read it but I thought very good read and I wish the best to these authors.
August 2, 2007
Non-fiction. Written by 4 9/11 widows. This book isn't nearly as sad and depressing as I was expecting. It is full of love and hope. It really made me appreciate my life and my husband. You never know when the things most precious to you can be taken away. This was a great book.
August 20, 2007
One of the best grief books I've read, and one of the most touching books I've ever read, period. This is a memoir written by four 9/11 widows, following their lives from just before the 1-year anniversary, through 4 years out from it. This is absolutely what it's like to be a widow. What I especially loved about it is that it isn't about the first year of grief and that it shows what it's really like in the long run; most grief books, in contrast, barely even acknowledge anything after the first several months, must less a year. If you know someone who's grieving, especially a widow or widower, and don't know how to help or what they might be thinking or feeling, this book gives a great deal of insight into what the real issues of grief are, especially after the initial shock and numbness have worn off.
November 4, 2011
This was a wonderfully tender book about some women who lost their beloved husbands in the 9/11 attacks. They became friends solely because of their losses, learned to lean on each other, and even learned to love again. The book goes through each of their lives - how they met their husbands, what it was like on the dreadful day and the aftermath, and how each of them picked up their lives again. It was a very memorable book that i will never forget reading.
June 22, 2021
Time taken to read - 4 days
Pages - 336
Publisher - Hatchette Books
Source - Bought
Blurb from Amazon
How would you feel and what would you do if, one glorious, sunny day your partner and love were to die suddenly, when all he did was go to work and you didn't even wake up properly to say goodbye? How could you possibly cope?
In Love You, Mean It, four women whose husbands died in the World Trade Center tell their own, very remarkable, moving and honest stories, the stories of their very different marriages, the paths that led them to September 11th.
They explain how it was only when they came together, drawn as much by their diverse backgrounds as their shared tragedy, that their mutual support and love saw them through their darkest hours. The truths they discovered in the process are universal, compelling and altogether inspiring.
My Review
Four widows sharing their stories of their lives, the morning the twin towers were attacked, the devastation and how each of them started that day and what followed. We hear about how they met their husbands, their lives together, how their morning started that horrific day that changed theirs and so many lives.
Not only do we get to know the wives, we learn about their husbands who died and how much was taken from them. How they found each other, their friendship cemented and how they got each other through some of the hardest moments you can only imagine. Their last moments together, of normality and their worlds being shattered. I remember that day, I think pretty much everyone does, I remember being in shock, horrified, sad and not knowing what to say, you couldn't believe what you were seeing. So to be someone actually living there, having a loved one near or in there, it is very emotive dipping into these ladies lives.
The stories are told through their words, experiences and they share their grief and raw emotions from hearing their worlds have been torn apart to trying to self heal, recover and face a life without their loved ones. It is a very emotive read and I it takes you back to that day, the images and news footage - I couldn't stop thinking about it, 4/5 for me.
Pages - 336
Publisher - Hatchette Books
Source - Bought
Blurb from Amazon
How would you feel and what would you do if, one glorious, sunny day your partner and love were to die suddenly, when all he did was go to work and you didn't even wake up properly to say goodbye? How could you possibly cope?
In Love You, Mean It, four women whose husbands died in the World Trade Center tell their own, very remarkable, moving and honest stories, the stories of their very different marriages, the paths that led them to September 11th.
They explain how it was only when they came together, drawn as much by their diverse backgrounds as their shared tragedy, that their mutual support and love saw them through their darkest hours. The truths they discovered in the process are universal, compelling and altogether inspiring.
My Review
Four widows sharing their stories of their lives, the morning the twin towers were attacked, the devastation and how each of them started that day and what followed. We hear about how they met their husbands, their lives together, how their morning started that horrific day that changed theirs and so many lives.
Not only do we get to know the wives, we learn about their husbands who died and how much was taken from them. How they found each other, their friendship cemented and how they got each other through some of the hardest moments you can only imagine. Their last moments together, of normality and their worlds being shattered. I remember that day, I think pretty much everyone does, I remember being in shock, horrified, sad and not knowing what to say, you couldn't believe what you were seeing. So to be someone actually living there, having a loved one near or in there, it is very emotive dipping into these ladies lives.
The stories are told through their words, experiences and they share their grief and raw emotions from hearing their worlds have been torn apart to trying to self heal, recover and face a life without their loved ones. It is a very emotive read and I it takes you back to that day, the images and news footage - I couldn't stop thinking about it, 4/5 for me.
June 5, 2008
Please see my detailed review at Amazon.com
Grace's "Love You, Mean It" Review
Please click that the review was helpful to you at Amazon so that my rating continues to climb! Thanks!
This was yet another heartbreaking volume in the ever-growing canon of 9/11 memoir. Unmissable regarding the strange detours on which you find yourself when dealing with grief. Very impressive.
Please click that the review was helpful to you at Amazon so that my rating continues to climb! Thanks!
This was yet another heartbreaking volume in the ever-growing canon of 9/11 memoir. Unmissable regarding the strange detours on which you find yourself when dealing with grief. Very impressive.
May 19, 2008
I read this book last fall, around the time of the 5th year anniversary of 9/11 and was truly amazed by the strength of these four women to move on and to keep the memories of their husbands alive. While each of their stories was interwoven with each others, they were also very individual in the ways that they have remembered their husbands. By the time that I had finished the book, I had cried and laughed along with these women. Highly recommended.
July 23, 2007
Love You, Mean It was written by four women whose husbands were killed in the World Trade Center on 9/11. I thought this book was beautifully written.
What I Learned:
Don't take anyone for granted because you never know when they will be taken from you. When tragedy strikes, you will feel like you can't go on. You can, and you will.
[http://www.loveyoumeanit.com]
What I Learned:
Don't take anyone for granted because you never know when they will be taken from you. When tragedy strikes, you will feel like you can't go on. You can, and you will.
[http://www.loveyoumeanit.com]
September 11, 2007
A serious tear jerker with every turn of the page.... a definite must read for all women. Each woman's love story is just as magical as the next- The friendship these women forged after each suffered a tremendous loss in the September 11 WTC collapse is remarkable.
January 17, 2008
Fabulous book. Such great strength these women show in the face of tremendous tragedy. I've shared this with many friends & all have been so glad they read it. Proves that different women from very different walks of life can be true friends when faced with tragedy.
July 31, 2008
This is a hard one to read, but worth it! It's about 4, 9-11 widows who all lost their husbands at the world trade center on 9-11. Before 9-11 the didn't know each other, and after they become each others best friends. It makes you appricate everything you have!
May 3, 2007
I really liked this book and the strength and bond of these widows. I recommend it to everyone.
July 3, 2007
While it can be very sad at times, at its core this is a beautiful book about friendship. I really enjoyed it.
June 26, 2008
Very emotional. Hard to read. One of the authors is the wife of one of Joe's best friends from college
July 19, 2008
If you are ever feeling sorry for yourself...read this!! :) It'll show you how to find strength and to get over yourself!! HA
August 1, 2008
Live each day like it's your first or your last. Life is short. Tell the ones you love EVERY day, how much they mean to you. You may never have another chance.
June 10, 2021
Loved this book and circled many passages. I will be passing this book along to dear friends though will expect it to be returned :) so that I can add it to my “keeper” shelf.
May 17, 2018
When the story is hard but still worth the telling.
It took me quite a long while to finish reading this book, and even much longer to get to the point of reviewing it here. but here am I today to do just that, give my honest review of the book, as I see it.
Love you, mean it
Authored by: Patricia Carrington, Julia Collins, Claudia Gerbansi and Ann Haynes.
Publisher: Hachette Books (August 23, 2006)
ISBN-10: 1401302297
ISBN-13: 978-1401302290
In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the world trade center (and other venues) in the USA, almost every living person in America if not the world over was left grieving, maybe none more so than these four young women who were widowed by that single attack. For those of us who were somehow, spared the trauma of having any direct linkage to those folks who’d lost their lives there and then, we were soon to be on the amends, soon to be forgetting and moving on with our lives. Not so for these four women as is to be seen in the book as they tell and retells their stories, the other stories, which were the off-shoots of those 9/11 events
As the story (as told in this book) begins to unfold, one can easily follow along since the facts of the case are all well-known; however, when the doors are closed and the lights go out in the households of these women and by extension, everyone who has suffered such tragic losses. When left alone, locked away within the walls of their dwelling places, strange things can begin to happen. I could never begin to imagine what sort of stormy waters these women had was to navigate their way through in order to land somewhat safely on shore again, so I have nothing but respect and admiration for them, I do not wish anything even remotely resembling this to happen to anyone, ever again.
That being said, here comes the hard part. And it starts with a confession; I did not read to the very end of the book, I could not.
The more I proceed into the story, the more I was getting the feeling as if these women were making the men out to be some sorts of saints or perfect souls who, unlike the rest of us, could do, think or say no wrong. And then came those questions popping up in my head: where did all these perfect men come from? Why did they have to go without ever getting to finish the job(s) for which they’d come to this messed-up planet: for the perfecting of the rest of us perhaps, and most certainly for the perfecting and completion of those women who were so fortunate to have managed to lock them in, into their lives before they were taken away? What’s going to happen to them and the rest of us now? And then came also the cynical thoughts; it probably was for the good that they’d left.
Why did I feel like, if they were yet here, they would not be with those same women, in those very same perfect relationships, (at least not all of them,) showing the rest of us “out-of-whack nomads” how it was supposed to be when one finds and fall in love with someone?
I’m so very sorry if I'm coming across as too harshly on these ladies, but that’s just how I felt then, and still, do now, it did not come across to me as “real,” your portrayal of these men. Note: I still want to take time out here to say how very sorry I am for your losses, and wish you, all of you, I wish you well in your lives going forward. Thank you.
For those of you my readers who want to read this book, Find it Here: http://a.co/9ggdEHx
It took me quite a long while to finish reading this book, and even much longer to get to the point of reviewing it here. but here am I today to do just that, give my honest review of the book, as I see it.
Love you, mean it
Authored by: Patricia Carrington, Julia Collins, Claudia Gerbansi and Ann Haynes.
Publisher: Hachette Books (August 23, 2006)
ISBN-10: 1401302297
ISBN-13: 978-1401302290
In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the world trade center (and other venues) in the USA, almost every living person in America if not the world over was left grieving, maybe none more so than these four young women who were widowed by that single attack. For those of us who were somehow, spared the trauma of having any direct linkage to those folks who’d lost their lives there and then, we were soon to be on the amends, soon to be forgetting and moving on with our lives. Not so for these four women as is to be seen in the book as they tell and retells their stories, the other stories, which were the off-shoots of those 9/11 events
As the story (as told in this book) begins to unfold, one can easily follow along since the facts of the case are all well-known; however, when the doors are closed and the lights go out in the households of these women and by extension, everyone who has suffered such tragic losses. When left alone, locked away within the walls of their dwelling places, strange things can begin to happen. I could never begin to imagine what sort of stormy waters these women had was to navigate their way through in order to land somewhat safely on shore again, so I have nothing but respect and admiration for them, I do not wish anything even remotely resembling this to happen to anyone, ever again.
That being said, here comes the hard part. And it starts with a confession; I did not read to the very end of the book, I could not.
The more I proceed into the story, the more I was getting the feeling as if these women were making the men out to be some sorts of saints or perfect souls who, unlike the rest of us, could do, think or say no wrong. And then came those questions popping up in my head: where did all these perfect men come from? Why did they have to go without ever getting to finish the job(s) for which they’d come to this messed-up planet: for the perfecting of the rest of us perhaps, and most certainly for the perfecting and completion of those women who were so fortunate to have managed to lock them in, into their lives before they were taken away? What’s going to happen to them and the rest of us now? And then came also the cynical thoughts; it probably was for the good that they’d left.
Why did I feel like, if they were yet here, they would not be with those same women, in those very same perfect relationships, (at least not all of them,) showing the rest of us “out-of-whack nomads” how it was supposed to be when one finds and fall in love with someone?
I’m so very sorry if I'm coming across as too harshly on these ladies, but that’s just how I felt then, and still, do now, it did not come across to me as “real,” your portrayal of these men. Note: I still want to take time out here to say how very sorry I am for your losses, and wish you, all of you, I wish you well in your lives going forward. Thank you.
For those of you my readers who want to read this book, Find it Here: http://a.co/9ggdEHx
August 5, 2023
I would recommend this book except for what happened after the book ended. The protagonists show courage and perseverance and patience when a terrible accident results in injuries to both, but the worse with the wife, who has a brain injury that totally wipes her memories of the husband. Their journey back is inspirational. Unfortunately the infidelity of the husband who narrates much of the story after the book ends spoils all of the inspiration.
July 5, 2018
In the aftermath of 9/11, so little hope seemed to exist, even for those of us who did not know someone directly affected.
It was with some trepidation that I picked up Love You, Mean It, which recounts the stories of widows brought together by the horrific event and staying together as need becomes affection and loving friendship.
It was with some trepidation that I picked up Love You, Mean It, which recounts the stories of widows brought together by the horrific event and staying together as need becomes affection and loving friendship.
April 14, 2020
Heartbreaking reflection of four 9/11 widows as they piece their lives back together and attempt healing after their unthinkable losses... the bond they forge as they happen upon their own affectionately-known Widows Club is inspiring and a true portrait of strength in community.
July 12, 2018
This book was such a lucky find! Tears one minute, and smiles the next. Would thoroughly recommend it if you get the chance.
October 18, 2018
Loved this book. Four 9/11 widows form an unlikely friendship. Couldn’t put it down!
December 6, 2019
Aangrijpend boek! Mooi om te lezen dat vrouwen elkaar zo kunnen steunen.
June 25, 2020
really enjoyed it. i worked with one of the authors and appreciated her telling this trajic story
September 28, 2020
Wasn't quite what I was expecting but still a good quick read.
May 16, 2021
A beautifully sad story, finding happiness again through friendship, love and support. A perfect read for anyone struggling with loss.
August 3, 2025
I have reread this book a few times. It’s such a heartfelt story of dealing with loss and tragedy and finding love and friendships along the way. I’ll continue rereading this book every few years.
May 22, 2019
What can you do when life as you know it is shattered in an instant? How can you deal with the devastating loss of a beloved husband when the whole country is dealing with its own loss? Pattie Carrington, Julia Collins, Claudia Gerbasi, and Ann Haynes share similar tragedies - their husbands were all killed in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. The four women came together a few months later to form a group that they later named The Widow's Club or the WC. This common ground allowed the women to be real, to share their feelings with each other in a way that others - try as they might - just couldn't understand or relate to.
Love You, Mean It is a memoir, written from the viewpoints of each of the four women, as well as the group as a whole. Readers learn about each woman's life before she met her husband, their courtship, and their marriage. We experience a glimpse of their lives on September 11, and the aftereffects of their loss on themselves, their friends, and family. It is heart-wrenching, moving, poignant, and authentically told. I spent a great deal of the time reading this book in tears, but not all from sadness. My heart ached for these women and their experiences, but I also got a true sense of joy in their descriptions of their husbands and the impact these men had on the lives of those around them.
Although Love You, Mean It focuses on losses from 9/11, its overall theme - of loss, young widowhood, and the grieving process - transcends the incident and is relevant to anyone experiencing the sudden death of someone close to them. The friendship formed by the WC is amazing and intense. Their unwavering support for each other - but also their willingness to confront tough issues head on - makes their bond strong. The memoir is as much about friendship as it is about loss, and readers will get a true sense of the intimate connection these women share. Love You, Mean It is a wonderful book. Though not always easy to read, its message is overwhelmingly worth the expended emotion.
Love You, Mean It is a memoir, written from the viewpoints of each of the four women, as well as the group as a whole. Readers learn about each woman's life before she met her husband, their courtship, and their marriage. We experience a glimpse of their lives on September 11, and the aftereffects of their loss on themselves, their friends, and family. It is heart-wrenching, moving, poignant, and authentically told. I spent a great deal of the time reading this book in tears, but not all from sadness. My heart ached for these women and their experiences, but I also got a true sense of joy in their descriptions of their husbands and the impact these men had on the lives of those around them.
Although Love You, Mean It focuses on losses from 9/11, its overall theme - of loss, young widowhood, and the grieving process - transcends the incident and is relevant to anyone experiencing the sudden death of someone close to them. The friendship formed by the WC is amazing and intense. Their unwavering support for each other - but also their willingness to confront tough issues head on - makes their bond strong. The memoir is as much about friendship as it is about loss, and readers will get a true sense of the intimate connection these women share. Love You, Mean It is a wonderful book. Though not always easy to read, its message is overwhelmingly worth the expended emotion.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews