TCF of Boston has recently established a book discussion group. All are welcome! Here are books that we have read and discussed in the past months. Bear in mind, we all have had different losses and different grief experiences. Books that bring comfort to some, may not to others. Give a book a fair try, but if it's not for you, cast it aside and try something else.
Though not specifically about child loss, this book contains loads of wisdom and truths. The author knows grief well–first as a psychotherapist and then as a woman who witnessed the drowning death of her husband. She debunks myths; explains why this is so terribly hard; and offers advice for dealing with the outside world, managing the sadness; and decreasing anxiety–all without trying to “fix” you.
Author Carol Smith lost her seven-year-old son due to sudden medical complications. If, after a decade or more, your grief still feels intense, you will be able to relate to the Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist. Her way of coping was through her work as a writer. At times it may be hard to read her stories of people who have suffered such enormous challenges, but ultimately it is a book of light, love, and hope for us all.
Laura Imai Messina’s international bestselling novel is a story about grief, mourning, and the joy of survival, inspired by a real phone booth in Japan with its disconnected “wind” phone, a place of pilgrimage and solace since the 2011 tsunami. Though it’s a fictional story, it will surely resonate with anyone who has lost a child.
This is a tiny little, quick-to-read book that provides enormous comfort and truths. Dr. Jo, as she is known, lost her newborn daughter decades ago. Though she had suffered other losses, nothing could compare to this. She was not sure she would survive. After baby Cheyenne’s death, Joanne went back to school to obtain her PhD, and she is now a professor of social work and director of the Graduate Certificate in Trauma and Bereavement program at Arizona State University. She also runs the Selah Carefarm where bereaved individuals care for rescued animals. This very small book is highly recommended for anyone who has lost a child.
On the morning of February 6, 1991, Pastor Dennis Apple lost his 18-year-old son, Denny, to complications from mononucleosis. Life After the Death of My Son shares a glimpse of the unspeakable pain, helplessness, frustration, and eventual healing that Dennis and his wife, Buelah, have experienced since losing their son. Using excerpts from his journal―which he began the day after Denny died―Dennis explores the dark, lonely road of grieving for a child. He discloses his anger and disappointment with God, discusses his frustrations with friends and family, and shares how he's dealt with the grief attacks which continue to sneak up and surprise him. This book is particularly good for a person of faith, who may now be struggling with their beliefs and perceptions of God, or for someone who finds themself grieving differently from their spouse.
Book discussions are held on Zoom the third Saturday of the month at 10:00 a.m. Email us at tcfofboston@gmail.com for the Zoom link. All are welcome!