Pieces of Glass: A Moment of Tragedy, a Lifetime of Faith

by Sarah Kay

Sometimes joy and grief are separated by mere moments. A last-minute run down a ski slope ... a catastrophic accident ... and an amazing young man is reduced to a comatose form in a hospital bed. His adoring fiancee remains to weep, pray, grieve, rage, and struggle with the jagged trauma of suffering and loss. Some questions have no answers. Some things in life just don't make sense---including God. And yet ... There is God. There is a deeper, more real faith that roots in the wasteland. There is a promise that comforts, and there is hope, and there is life. Pieces of Glass is the poignant, deeply personal chronicle of a young woman's journey through grief. With eloquence and relentless honesty, author Sarah Kay shares the emotional ebb and flow of her own heart and spirit---and in so doing, reassures, comforts, and encourages us all.

Genres: Poetry

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2006

Reviews

[Nisha N · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s crazy. Some time during 2015, I purchased this book because I fell in love with Sarah Kay’s words when I was introduced to her poetry. I read a few pages but for some reason never got a chance to finish it. Tonight I finish this book and I know I was meant to read it at this time. I was meant to have this on my shelf and save it for later- I’m one of those people who reads a book in a day or two because I can’t wait to finish and find out what happens, so the fact that I had this long three year pause stood out to me. Nonetheless I couldn’t put it down as soon as I picked it up the second time.

As others have said, this book is raw, powerful, full of lessons, and healing. The same year I purchased this book I went through a very intense and traumatic experience myself and, now that I’ve read this, I found it healing me in ways I wouldn’t have understood had I read it before that experience. I absolutely recommend this to anyone who needs healing, any one experiencing the ups and downs in faith that happen when going through trying times and anyone really, anyone. I’m not Christian, but I heavily resonated with all her faith related worries and revelations as a Muslim. It was very human and natural. She was able to piece her thoughts in such a way that you feel as if you are truly there, in those moments with her as she was experiencing them.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was reading my own thoughts. Sarah Kay opened her soul to share with us what it is like to be a young woman and have life change in one instant. Not everyone experiences the semi loss of a signifcant other and reading this book made me realize that I was not alone. Like Sarah Kay I did not fit into the widow group or the married group. There really isn't a group for engaged young women whose fiances have suffered traumatic brain injuries. This book is a great read for those experiencing this first hand or for those close to someone experiencing this.

[Kristina Sigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written in a raw and beautiful light. Sarah Kay shared her own faith (bumps and bruise included) and caused me to revisit and ponder my own. We all must face moments of tragedy and sorrow, embrace them even. Her story is heart wrenching, tender, precious and purposeful. It is filled with light and hope that we all need to be reminded of.

[Pierce James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good poems

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sad story which parallels my pastor’s daughter and her experience when her boyfriend suffered a head trauma. The term “almost a widow” has stuck with me.

[Sarah Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some thoughtful snippets about the almost loss of someone to catastrophic disability:

"I have moments when tomorrow is on the tip of my tongue, and yesterday is still wrapped around my shoulders."

"Time marches on whether I like it or not."

"In my quiet existence I have been trying to rebuild some semblance of life in the aftermath of loss. I have struggled to find perspective and hope in the ashes of what could have been. I have learned firsthand that tragedy and joy coexist alongside a loving Lord who never forsakes people, even when he allows suffering."

"The body can naturally grieve for only so long. Smiles must return, even through tears. It is the natural purging of pain. To laugh is to live, but laughter is formed in pain. Laughter is the natural complement to pain. It's the consolation prize and a rite of passage. . ."

[Blake Atwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Kay's tragic yet hope-laden grief memoir presents well-written glimpses into a life she could never have expected.

Told thematically rather than chronologically, Pieces of Glass grants readers a soul-level tour of what she experienced when her fiancée suffered a catastrophic accident. With unflinching honesty in the face of deep sorrow for an early twenty-something about to graduate from a Christian college, Sarah Kay refuses to subsist on well-meaning Christian platitudes. Rather, she presents the unvarnished truth of her experience—a shared characteristic of every meaningful memoir, of which this is definitely one.

If you wrestle with grief of loss, Pieces of Glass is highly recommended.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great true story about a young woman who has persevered through a lot of pain and sorrow in her life. In this book Sarah talks about her relationship with God through the good times and the bad times in her life. It is very inspirational for anyone who has ever questioned their faith.

[Luann Habecker · Rating 3 out of 5]

awesome

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book about how to handle tragedy only through God's grace!!!

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great lessons on love, loss, and faith.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was beautifully written, and even better spoken. Be sure to find a video of Sarah performing her poetry online!