Books to read for grief and loss Blog
Grief is a difficult process and often you may feel alone and isolated due to your experience. Often, we can find some sort of comfort in the words of others – especially when they have experienced the same thing as us.
There are so many authors who have perfectly channelled their loss via writing, so reading may provide you with a sense of alleviation the with burden of grief. Here are just a few of our recommendations:
A Grief Observed – C.S Lewis
‘A grief observed’ features a collection of C S Lewis following his experiences after the death of his wife, Joy Davidman. The book questions the nature of grief and whether returning to a state of normality is even possible after a loved one dies – his novel heavily references spirituality and shares a very vulnerable and personal side to the well-known author. This book is one of the most recommended, as many are moved by Lewis’s relatable account.
When Breath Becomes Air – Paul Kalanithi
This incredibly poignant novel was written by a neurosurgeon facing stage four terminal lung cancer. Kalanithi explores what makes life worth living when on the cusp of inevitable death – his medical insight coupled with everyday life events of becoming a new father. Kalanithi’s affirming reflection of mortality and life became a bestseller and has been short-listed for many book awards.
The Last Act of Love – Cathy Rentzenbrink
This memoir is incredibly moving and details a sister’s turmoil as she grows up witnessing her younger brother’s coma for over a decade. Despite the tragic circumstances, Rentzenbrink’s memoir is filled with gentle humour and mutual sibling affection. This book explores coming to terms with grief and noticing the ways it could potentially affect your life.
The Adult Orphan Club – Flora Baker
When both of Flora’s parents die in her twenties, she is left on her own to come to grips with her own grief. She explores both the chaos of grief and the methods in which we can handle it. Written for the newly grieving in mind, this novel is packed with advice and talks about death in a heartfelt and honest way.
Grief books for kids
Explaining the loss of a loved one to kids can be incredibly difficult, so finding the right resources to help lessen the impact of grief. Here are a few of our book recommendations:
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse – Charlie Mackesy
This book was an instant favourite for booksellers - it features a wide range of Mackesy’s stunning paintings and calligraphic text. Through a series of profound discussions, Mackesy teases universal truths and rich wisdom from the mouths of his characters, celebrating warmth and empathy in all its countless forms.
Ida, Always – Caron Levis and Charles Santoso
Ida, Always is an exquisite book detailing the intricacies of loss and friendship. After the main character, Gus, faces the loss of his friend Ida, they navigate the tricky news with sniffles, cuddles, and even laughs.
How Open Prepaid Funerals can help
Grieving is such an individualised experience, there is no right or wrong way to grieve – however, we do hope that these books can help shed some light on your difficult journey.
Here at Open Prepaid funerals, we work to alleviate the emotional and financial stress of funeral preparation.
If you would like to find out more about prepaid funeral plans, or for any other funeral-related questions, then do not hesitate to get in touch.
- Posted 13th April 2022