Crawling Through the Darkness

by Linda Goldspink-Lord

Linda Goldspink-Lord experienced every parent’s worst nightmare when her daughter Molly was killed in a tragic accident. Having also recently lost her mother, and suffered major health problems of her own, Linda had to find a way out of the darkness, back to the light.

Crawling Through the Darkness is an exploration of grief and loss, but also full of guidance on reconnecting with hope, life and love after hitting rock bottom.

Part family memoir, part grief manual, and part inspirational life guidebook, Linda shares her hard-won wisdom with anyone who needs to feel hopeful about life after loss.

Paperback

Published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for sharing such a personal story about her family's loss and their grief. This story will touch deeply anyone who has experienced loss and grief, and reinforces the message that life is ephemeral and for us all to be present in the moment.

"Life is Life. It doesn't come with an instruction manual or a subject outline - you have to figure out how you should live it on the fly, and you never know what lesson or adventure will come up next." (234)

[ellsbooknook]

You know it’s going to be a tough read when less than 15 pages in and you’ve already cried. Twice.

I wish I had the words to describe how this book made me feel but I simply don’t because I am so overwhelmed with love and sadness and happiness and grief (despite me not even knowing Molly or Linda) and fulfilment and emptiness all at once.

Despite this being a book that is primarily based around a very, very sad and heavy topic, this book is beautiful. The writing is simple yet eloquent and you can just tell @lindagoldspinklord entire heart and soul has been poured into this book not only for Molly, but also for herself.

I can say without a doubt that this book is going to stick with me for an extremely long time and I really do encourage anyone and everyone to read it (given you are in the right mental space)

NO STAR RATING AS ITS A MEMOIR

[Donna M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever started a book and found you didn't want to do anything else until you finished that book? This is one of those. I am going to beg the author, right here and right now, to make this book available in the USA.

I picked this book up after meeting Linda while cruising the Rhine. Like most of us, I have suffered dreadful losses. None of mine are recent, and none are as painful as losing a child. My point, I guess, is that no matter what your loss is, be it a partner, a best friend, your spouse or a parent, Linda offers several ways to get through it with the realization that life will never be the same. But one day, you will smile, you will laugh again.

I watched several interviews with Linda before I read her book. She talks about her beautiful daughter Molly's accident, rarely describing it as a death. This gives us a warm feeling that Molly is still very much with us. And it gives us hope that the loved ones who left us in this life are by our side as well.
There are very few details about the actual accident so the reader can focus not on how Molly died but how she lived. She packed quite a bit in her short life, and she got into the hearts of many people, and several animals. When I finished the book, I looked to the mountain and wondered…What career would Molly have chosen? Would she still like pink bows? How many times would she have fallen in love?
If I could give this review 100 stars, I would. Google Linda Goldspink-Lord and watch her interviews. There are a few videos of Molly and her siblings. They are heartwarming. Be sure you have a box of tissues by your side.

[Trudy Edgar]

This book is full of a four-letter word!...Hope.
Hope’s power is its ability to transform your own narrative from pain to endurance, from devastation to resilience. With kindness and reflection Linda Goldspink-Lord offers her personal story as a hopeful example to anyone who faces the mountain of grief and loss. Sorrow's shadow is a shared human experience we all will encounter at some point and Linda recounts the resources and methods that provided light when facing her own dark agony.
By finding space for pain to coexist with happiness she uncovers a way to crawl through the darkness, honouring her daughter Molly, while taking your hand too.

[Erin Huckle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that's stayed with me long after the last page, and I know it's something I'll dip into again over time. Linda writes with such heart and her story is heartbreaking, but also so full of hope. She shares her wisdom, and writes in a way that makes this book impossible to put down. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll be inspired. Thank you Linda and thank you Molly, for sharing your story.

[Nazreen Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brought with it a new perspective on life and everything I hold dear… an absolutely beautiful, yet tragic story that brought with it the full range of emotions – from tears and despair – to hope and light. Thank you Linda for bringing the authenticity and honesty that you do, for sharing your story, and for allowing us to feel and heal alongside you. I cannot recommend this book more highly it is one that will stay with me for life.

[Tara Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heartfelt read that empowers all your emotions. This book embraces heartache and the darkness you can fall into after a tragedy, however most importantly love and life after your world falls apart. Such a personal and raw book that you won’t be able to put down after you start reading. Just one of the aspects I have taken from this read is to ‘live your moments’. Thank you to the author for showing such courage and honesty and sharing your story 💖

[Leanne Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A parent's worst nightmare, yet a book that has been written with two themes....light and love. This book shows the journey a family experiences and at the depth of their grief love and hope triumphs. An amazing story teller, Linda Goldspink Lord is able to share with the reader the depths of her grief and the love that prevails. Highly recommended.

[Paula Lanyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will capture every emotion in your soul . A story of true love ,compassion and family . Thank you for sharing this story and the lessons we can all benefit from . Molly lives on in all our hearts and boy would she be proud of her mum sharing this story xx

[Debbie Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having lost a child and suffered my own traumas throughout life, reading this book really explains the grief & loss journey and gives hope to others who are also crawling through the darkness. Linda writes as she speaks...with genuine warmth, compassion and inspiration.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing book for spirit and healing the mind, it breaks you but makes you stronger in the end. A lot of people would benefit from reading this book. It helps in a lot of ways. Inspirational woman and incredible support from her family and friends.