Coping with / advice about death and bereavement Books

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Book SynopsisKennedy shares her own story of facing the loss of a parent and offers innovative strategies for healing and transformation.

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Book Synopsis With her signature warmth, hilarity, and tendency to overshare, Leslie Gray Streeter gives us real talk about love, loss, grief, and healing in your own way that 'will make you laugh and cry, sometimes on the same page' (James Patterson). Leslie Gray Streeter is not cut out for widowhood. She's not ready for hushed rooms and pitying looks. She is not ready to stand graveside, dabbing her eyes in a classy black hat. If she had her way she'd wear her favorite curve-hugging leopard print dress to Scott's funeral; he loved her in that dress! But, here she is, having lost her soulmate to a sudden heart attack, totally unsure of how to navigate her new widow lifestyle. ('New widow lifestyle.' Sounds like something you'd find products for on daytime TV, like comfy track suits and compression socks. Wait, is a widow even allowed to make jokes?) Looking at widowhood through the prism of race, mixed marriage, and aging, Black Wid

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Book Synopsis''To support the bereaved, we need to get to grips with death.''Talking about death and grief has become something of a modern taboo. Most of us would rather avoid the subject altogether because it makes us feel anxious or awkward. When Annie Broadbent''s mum died, one of the hardest parts of her experience was seeing her friends and extended family paralysed by their fear of saying or doing the wrong thing.Frustrated and saddened by her own experience, in this thoughtful book Annie presents sixteen stories which build a much needed bridge between the bereaved and the rest of us. Combined with expert advice, Speaking of Death is a collection of real life experiences of grief. The stories help you build your own relationship with death and provide support for supporters of the bereaved. If you''ve never known what to say to a grieving person, you will after this book.''Annie offers a compassionate and caring approach to supporting someone throTrade ReviewIt is wonderful. Pitch perfect in tone and a very important book. It will help many people. -- Sally Brampton, author of Shoot the Damn DogWe can only support and agree with Annie's brave attempt to put death talk on the map. These are very difficult conversations to have and this book will be a helpful tool to encourage those who want to help those suffering with grief to share some of their burden, especially in our "quick fix, easy answer" society. -- Shelley Gilbert, CEO of Grief EncounterWonderfully moving, relevant and important -- Kate Timperley * Maggie's *

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Book SynopsisLouisa Zondoâs work has helped to shape the new South Africa, but she has also faced intense grief and trauma, which came from the underside of the emerging nationâs complex social fabric.

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Book SynopsisAt Death's Door: End of Life Stories from the Bedside tells the powerful story of Sebastian Sepulveda's experiences in working with patients at the end of their lives. In some cases, death came quickly, after the patient was first diagnosed with a terminal condition and entered the hospital. In other cases, patients had a long, progressive illness that got increasingly worse over the months or years until they were in their final days. In some cases, patients were able to fight off death for many years. Hard decisions are often madewhether to resuscitate or not, whether to choose hospice or not, who makes the decisions when a patient cannot, and whose decision to follow when several family members are involved in decision making. Written from the perspective of a medical doctor from years of experience, this personal approach to the end of life explores the many options available to patients and their families and reveals how real people have come to those decisions, and how they playTrade ReviewAt Death's Door is an attempt to provide scenarios that can occur when a patient is approaching the end of life. Sepulveda, a doctor with 30-plus years of experience, and Scott, a well-known writer, describe a variety of situations that involve decision making for end-of-life care, coping mechanisms that can hinder the decision-making process, and cultural issues that are often misunderstood or ignored. Each situation is an attempt to provide a realistic view for the reader. However, the recalled dialogue would be better replaced with a summary—an interpretation would provide far more insight than the choppiness of the report. Medical terms are defined throughout, which is beneficial for non-medical readers…. Thus, the book will be best suited for laypeople seeking knowledge of the pitfalls that can occur along the end-of-life road…. This book is rich in personal experiences, which afford a level of authenticity to the work—this is difficult to find. It will prove invaluable to many who are seeking information on how to navigate the uncharted waters of end-of-life care. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and general readers. * CHOICE *[R]eading this book would allow you to reflect on how you try to assist patients and families with end-of-life issues. * International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care *While this book could easily serve as a classroom text for medical students, families who want to avoid stressful scrambling in a crisis situation at life’s end are well-advised to invest in a copy of At Death’s Door to review and keep at home. Digesting the pages will help families prepare, which will then bring them peace of mind. It may also inspire living better. * The Caregiver’s Voice *Through several chapters of gripping anecdotal evidence, Sepulveda and Scott show how different diseases affect physical systems and the ways in which they cause loss of life; how a DNR/DNI alters a care plan; and how it might save pain on both sides of the bed. The end is near in each of Sepulveda’s tales; whether the DNR/DNI is in place or not, the outcome is the same. The difference: one offers less pain and more peace, he says. What would you want for yourself? What would you want for your loved one? Valid questions, all, from a book that forces readers to think, hard. Yes, you may be a patient someday, and you’ll be glad you’ve read At Death’s Door, in the end. * Pantagraph *From the vantage point of a highly experienced and thoughtful physician at the bedside, Dr. Sepulveda brings clarity to the decisions confronting patients, doctors and the 21st century health care system at the end of life. Using compelling case vignettes, Dr. Sepulveda writes with clarity about the pathophysiologic processes of the common fatal diseases of our time – COPD, heart disease, dementia, obesity and cancer – and how patients, their families and physicians face the dilemmas and decisions to be made at life’s end. Dr. Sepulveda brings to life how a compassionate and honest physician can help guide patients and their families in the hard decisions faced at life’s end. -- Matthew S. Ellman, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Yale School of MedicineDr. Sepulveda provides an excellent overview of what we are likely to encounter in hospitals as we near death--whether our own or a loved one's death. This book is a worthwhile read for anyone preparing an advance directive or who is appointed to make end-of-life decisions for another. It also provides a useful introduction to end-of-life concepts and topics commonly encountered in U.S. hospitals. -- Anita J. Tarzian, PhD, RN, Program Coordinator, Maryland Health Care Ethics Committee Network (MHECN); Law & Health Care Program, Maryland Carey Law; Associate Professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing

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Book SynopsisNatalie Taylor, newly married to her childhood sweetheart and expecting their first child, is suddenly widowed in a senseless accident. Her journey from wife to widow to mother is a story of sadness, hope and inspiration.Trade Reviewnever before have I felt so changed by a book. The world looks more inviting after reading Signs of Life, as if I am suddenly seeing it the way Josh might have seen it. . . For all its strengths, Signs of Life is also one of the most candid books that I have ever read and for this reason alone I would urge anybody reading this piece to buy a copy of Signs of Life this instant * Vulpes Libris *Profound yet funny, painful yet hopeful. I couldn't put it down. * Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project *This is a really good book. Smart and honest * Kelly Corrigan, author of The Middle Place and Lift *Sit down with this book. See if you can stop after page one * Elizabeth Berg, author of Talk Before Sleep *Some writers have a compelling story; others have an original voice. But it is the rare writer who has both. Natalie Taylor is one of those writers * Laura Zigman, author of Her and Dating Big Bird *With wit, gutting honesty, and a modicum of self-pity, Natalie Taylor gives us permission to cry the necessary gamut of tears that healing requires... and that includes tears of joy * Laura Munson, author of This Is Not the Story You Think It Is *A touching, hopeful memoir * Sainsbury Magazine Hot Summer Reads *Young women and solo mothers everywhere will find a new best friend in Natalie Taylor, who meets the challenges of her life with grace and humor. * Julie Metz, author of Perfection *This candid memoir of a journey into and out of darkness has a full quota of humor and ends on a note of hope * Kirkus *More than a grief memoir, this is about the triumph of imagination and the role that time plays in healing. * Better Homes and Gardens *Raw, honest . . . touching and funny. * Sunday Herald Sun *Natalie's hard-won lessons remind us that whatever the circumstances we face in life, there is a warrior in all of us with the strength to persevere. * Senior Lifestyle Southern Highlands *Josh died when Natalie was just five months pregnant and never met his son. For the first year after his death, Natalie kept a diary and eventually that diary became this book, a witty, heartbreaking and deeply personal one you'll want to share with friends. * Image Magazine *a searingly honest look at the journey from wife to widow - and the trials of becoming a mother. Natalie's writing style is fluid and yet simple, letting events speak for themselves . . . And because she doesn't hid anything, you'll find yourself rooting for her * News of the World *the book deftly sidesteps the tag of misery memoir - from her pain, the irrepressible Taylor contrives to mine nuggets of pure humour * WHO Magazine (Winter Reading Guide) *It's hard to believe that Signs of Life is Natalie Taylor's first book . . . Whether you've lost someone close to you or not, this heart-rending book will make you appreciate how important loved ones are and the healing power of time * Press Association *Tissues at the ready! This true story is a definite weepy. An account of her struggle with grief, the entries are intensely moving and inspirational and is a worthwhile read for anyone, whether you have lost loved ones or not * U *Compelling * Working Mother *An absorbing memoir about sorrow and growing up handled with such dignity and grace that you will forgive Ms. Taylor for making you cry. * New York Review of Books *Yes, I cried. Yes, I laughed. And yes, books have had this effect on me before. But never before have I felt so changed by a book. * Lisa Glass, Vulpes Libris *Buy it, read it, love it. * Claire Maxwell, I Think I Just Blogged Myself *

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestsellerThe moving and inspiring account of heartbreak and courage, and the life-affirming relationship between a father and son. Ben Brooks-Dutton''s wife - the great love of his life - was knocked down and killed by a car as he walked beside her, pushing their two-year-old son in his buggy. Life changed forever. Suddenly Ben was a widower deep in shock, left to raise their bewildered child alone. In the aftermath Ben searched for guidance from men in similar situations, but it appeared that young widowed fathers don''t talk. Well meaning loved ones admired his strength. The unwritten rule seemed to be to ''shut up, man up and hide your pain''. Lost, broken and afraid of the future, two months after his wife Desreen''s death, Ben started a blog with the aim of rejecting outdated conventions of grief and instead opening up about his experiences. Within months Life as a Widower, had received a million hitsTrade ReviewA moving account of the relationship between a father and son, and how they survived the loss of their wife and mother. - Australian Mother and Baby Magazine

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Book SynopsisHow do you tuck away a piece of your heart forever? Rebecca Rena Jones tackles the difficult question in her stunning narrative on loss and grief.

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Book SynopsisClaire Bidwell Smith, an only child, is just fourteen years old when both of her charismatic parents are diagnosed with cancer. What follows is a coming-of-age story that is both heartbreaking and exhilarating. As Claire hurtles towards loss she throws herself at anything she thinks might help her cope with the weight of this harsh reality: boys, alcohol, traveling, and the anonymity of cities like New York and Los Angeles. By the time she is twenty-five years old both her parents are gone and Claire is very much alone in the world. Claire''s story is less of a tragic tale and more of a remarkable lesson on how to overcome some of life''s greatest hardships. Written with suspense and style, and bursting with love and adventure, The Rules of Inheritance vividly captures the deep grief and surprising light of a young woman forging ahead on a journey of loss that humbled, strengthened, and ultimately healed her.Trade ReviewA mesmerising memoir... a brilliant debut - Marie ClaireThe writing is extraordinary....you only need to read a few chapters of this memoir to see why Hollywood came calling (Jennifer Lawrence is to star in the movie) - GlamourIt is a stunningly honest account: heart-breaking, life-affirming and bruisingly insightful. - The Sunday TimesA heartbreaking coming-of-age story - Sunday Times CultureIntense and affecting - The Observer

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Book SynopsisThe Owl at the Window is a dramatic, moving and funny memoir. An emotional, ultimately uplifting tale of loss and hope.Trade ReviewThe Owl at the Window is an amazing and completely compelling book. It is both funny and sad, and so moving, I couldn't put it down. * Alison Steadman *Devastatingly moving and hilarious in equal measure. I have laughed and cried during the reading of a single sentence. The simplicity of the prose belies the complexity of the handling of the subject matter and the lightness of touch makes the depth of feeling bearable for the reader. * Caroline Quentin *The Owl at the Window is beautiful. So moving and honest. It's such a loving portrait of a marriage and a great tribute. * Rebecca Front *The Owl At The Window is a moving and poignant memoir which engages the reader like a novel. It's sharp, funny, sad, sweet - heart-breaking and heart-warming in equal measure. A wonderful read. * Tony Hawks, author of Round Ireland With a Fridge *It's beautiful. A raw, honest and incredibly moving portrait of love, loss and hope. * Lucinda Riley, author of Hothouse Flower *This is a wonderful book. It is the most personal of journeys. An invitation into the life of good people. People whom you wish you knew. Carl gently holds the reader's hand, making us laugh and cry with him.He has the voice of a friend. The last book to linger as much in my thoughts after putting it down was David Nichols 'One Day'. He is both brave and clever. He hides nothing about death and yet manages to offer hope and clarity through his humour and honesty. * Fay Ripley *This book will kidnap your heart * David Baddiel *

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