Welcome to the club you never wanted to join. When someone you love dies, it may seem impossible to know what will happen next and how you will cope. Losing someone in early adulthood, you may feel even more alone, when no-one around you seems to have had the same experience. Our letters don't have all the answers, but they do have some - because we've been through it ourselves. Some of us have written to ourselves back on that first day of grief, with the reassurance that we will get through those awful first months. Others share snippets from our grief journeys - from the experience of therapy, to the power of getting creative. Encompassing all types of loss, these stories show that there is no one way to grieve. They talk honestly about grief - the sad, the bad, and the surprisingly beautiful. Welcome to the Grief Club, we're so glad you've found us.
This is such an important book, it may be the most important book anyone could read. We all, at some point in our lives, lose a loved one. Death is inevitable, so why is it such a dreaded taboo to talk about how we feel when the event occurs?
This book tackles the topics of grief and loss with a short interlude, poem or a 'letter to the younger self' format, which is both refreshing and relatable, helping the reader feel at ease with facing an upsetting reality.
I was especially moved by: Anna Kate Blair's interlude on Obsession & Grief, Pg 51, Lisa's letter to herself speaking about the loss of her Daughter, Pg 82, and Rachel Clarke's poetic interlude on her mum's death and happiness, Pg 91. These three pieces stand out specifically, however the whole book is masterfully curated and perfectly diverse in its content.
Near the precipice of the book, on Pg 138, Bridget shares with us some writing prompts that you can use yourself, so that you can harness your new found voice and talk about your own grief - this can be the first step to healing; there is power in the act or writing, even if you don't share it with anyone.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is lost, struggling, feeling alone or strange about an experience that they have had about loss. Reading it was both heartbreaking and comforting, it makes you feel as if these other people got through the tough times - so you can too! Give it a go, don't be afraid to talk about grief.
The Letters. Oh my, a book anyone who is facing grief head on should read. A book anyone not facing grief head on should read, it might help you. A book anyone not talking about their grief should read and a book for those who are. There is a letter for each of you here. There are letters that made me sob great big unstoppable tears, and letters that made me weep. There were letters that spoke to me so deeply I found solace and relief that someone else had expressed so eloquently what I feel. There are letters I could have written time and time again. This book soothed my heartbroken soul and showed me it's real and valid, my feelings are all OK. My days are OK, the good and the bad and everything inbetween. It's ok to move forward and adapt to this new world and it's OK for you too.
A simple book of letters that people have written to themselves sharing their experiences of grief. Was really useful for me to read in the midst of losing two dear friends.