Beautifully Written and Realistic Portrayal of Grief
923259
Loved just about everything about this story. The back story for Jay and Maya is exceptional and I love the differing points of view for them both. I found this version of the spiritual world just a little far fetched, but I enjoyed reading it all the same. At times the explanations given to Jay by the other spirits was a little long winded and gave me a headache. But the portrait of grief painted by the author is so realistic and heart wrenching, it deserves nothing less than the five stars I've given it. A truly beautiful and thought provoking story.
27219
This book is absolutely beautifully written. It would make a wonderful gift for someone grieving or going through loss. The prose is very lyrical and somewhat comforting at the same time. I love her thoughts on the subject. She makes me think about things I've never considered before. Even in the work of fiction
3441342
The characters in this novel were complex and honest.  The pain that was felt by Nadia, Aubrey and Luke feels very real and thoughts about their pain are brought up that are not often discussed.  The writing was gorgeous.  You could tell from the writing if it was the young people who were speaking or if it was the church mothers.  Bennett has a unique ability to give each of her readers a voice and it was so refreshing.  When reading the synopsis, I was worried that this novel would be depressing.  Suicide and abortion are not topics that one likes to talk, or even think, about too often.  I didn't feel depressed while reading it, though.  Instead, I felt wisdom and integrity.  I really enjoyed reading the book and would recommend it to anyone that likes to read women's fiction.
1932237
I'd rate this 4.5 stars.

Full disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

The grief of losing a child is said to be one of the most painful and devastating, particularly when the child is an infant. My brother died of SIDS when he was six weeks old about 31 years ago, and I remember how debilitating that loss was for our entire family, particularly my parents, and that grief still resonates for my mother all these years later.

Sarah Shaw isn't sure she wants to recover after the accidental death of her infant daughter. But everyone tells her she needs to pull herself together and start living life again, especially to bring some normalcy back into the lives of her two young sons. Everyone, including her husband, watches her cautiously, expecting her to fall apart again. But it isn't too long before her husband gets caught up in the demands of work, leaving her to take care of their sons, despite that she is afraid something might go unexpectedly wrong at every turn.

One day she sees a young homeless woman pushing her baby in a stroller, and it taps into emotions Sarah thought she had dammed up. She pursues the woman, Josie, trying to help her, but Josie is wary of this woman suddenly wanting to help. Eventually, the two form an unlikely relationship of sorts, with Sarah determined to save Josie and her daughter. But Sarah doesn't understand the extent to which her help is needed, and she doesn't anticipate the toll this relationship will take on her own life, her marriage, and her psyche. All she knows is that saving Josie is key to saving herself.

How far would you go to help a stranger in need? What would you sacrifice for this help? Shelter Us attempts to answer those questions, filtered through a woman at the end of her emotional rope. But this type of behavior, obsessing over one problem because you can't control another, is far too common, and this book does an excellent job at exploring how a person can lose sight of what they're doing when lost in their own emotional issues.

This book is sad and hopeful, and Laura Nicole Diamond does a terrific job creating a situation that seems all too real and all too believable. The reader knows what Sarah is doing is out of control, but you understand why she is doing it. This is Diamond's debut novel, and she definitely proves that she is a writer worth watching in the future.
2559805
For once, everyone in our book liked the book. The Ghosts of Bergen County is a beautifully written take on the complexities of grief, love and redemption. It follows a married couple as they try to make sense of the death of their infant daughter, each in his/her own way. The characters feel real, complete with both the strengths and foibles of every day people struggling to make sense of where they have ended up in life. The book also delves into the intoxicating escape hatch that drugs can be for some people, and it does so intelligently and realistically. The "ghosts" in the title were both metaphorical and (possible) literal, and I was surprised at how deftly that plot line was woven in, and how touching it was. Both of the two settings -- suburban New Jersey and Manhattan -- come alive in this poignant, yet ultimately uplifting, book. Perfect choice for our book club.
42634
Waves Crashing is a beautifully-told story of a family trying to cope with the loss of a wife and mother.  The reader gets a real sense of the grief that each member of the family is experiencing, as well as the healing process that each member goes through.

The recurrent theme is the importance of family and friends during difficult times.

Author Wendy Jones, does an excellent job with character development.  Their feelings and reactions are all believable, and the reader is truly able to connect with them.  The Cape Cod setting is also a perfect place for the healing process to occur.

This is a wonderful story for anyone who has had to cope with the loss of a loved one.  I would highly recommend it.
4529859
This is a beautifully written story about a troubled girl who goes to stay with her grandparents (whom she's never met before) for the summer. Interwoven in the narrative of Finley is this story of Everwood made up by our young heroine to help deal with her problems. The way Claire Legrand handles tough subjects such as mental health, divorce, and family is so elegantly done that you can't help but fall in love with the characters and stories, and have your heart broken in the most beautiful way.

If you're thinking about reading it or thinking about getting this for your child, Some Kind of Happiness is an excellent choice. Though some of the subject matter isn't easy (i.e. mental health and divorce), it's written in such a way that is accessible to readers of any age. It's a story worth reading and knowing.
4054384
This is an emotional book, heart-wrenching in places, and it really made me think about my own life and relationships. There were moments when I wanted to cry, because the heartache, guilt and remorse were so vividly portrayed.

The characters are skilfully written, in a simple but stark manner, with the protagonist, Matthew, portrayed as a gentle, kind and confused young man who is suffering tremendously under the weight of his disabled brothers death and his own encroaching mental deterioration.

The writing style is fluid and accessible, although the narrative jumps around a lot, disjointed in places, which can be slightly difficult to follow (though I know this was intentional  as a means of portraying the protagonists schizophrenic mind).

For me personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the earlier parts of the book, when Matthew was younger and his illness was developing. The opening chapter is very powerful and dragged me right into the story. However, I began to lose interest in the final part of the book. There was a lot of repetition and it began to drag once everything had been resolved and the book just kept on going! I felt that the plot should have converged on a final moment of closure, instead of continuing on to explain the aftermath which I felt was unnecessary.

I listened to this on audiobook and the voice actor was perfect for this book. He spoke clearly, was easy to understand and gave a genuine warmth and personality to each character.
3575825
This is not another 9/11 account, but rather an story of a family's journey through pain and grief, using the event as the catalyst.  The characters are richly drawn and wholly believable, and almost everyone will find someone here to whom they can relate.  Kinsella is a beautiful writer.  There are many passages of pure poetry as he tells of feelings, places and moments of simple observation.  The depiction of Catherine's emotional ride through her grief are particularly moving and dead-on.  In the end, this is not a book of sadness, but one that is uplifting and affirming of the resilient nature of the human spirit.
4033549
The unexpected and sudden death of a young daughter, sister, niece, and friend is unimaginable in every sense of the word.  Tomorrow Comes, written by 19 year old Emma's mother, is an intimate and honest story of one family's efforts to cope with a loss that feels, and perhaps is, insurmountable.  Through the perspectives of various family members and friends, the reader begins to understand emotionally what he or she might only have previously understood intellectually; that people truly grieve in very different ways.  The author's decision to write this book shortly after her daughter's death allows readers grieving a loss to find a sense of comfort and normalcy in periods of emotional chaos, numbness, profound sadness, anger, and even laughter.  It allows readers to know they are not alone in the realization that questions as simple as "do we still go to Outback for Dad's birthday?" and as complex as "are you even still a family when you have lost such a huge part of yourselves?" can feel equally overwhelming.

Both the content of the book, and the process of writing it, speak volumes to the importance of efforts to "make sense" of an inconceivable loss.  Throughout Tomorrow Comes, the reader gets to know Emma as she comes to terms with her own death; not a perfect version of her, but the very same Emma that existed during her life.  Her voice is real, relatable, 19 years old.  Exploring how Emma, as she always will be, reacts to her own death and to her loved ones' grief, allows Emma to live on in a way that each of her family members can understand in their own way.  This "new" version of Emma provides her family with comfort because it is her voice, as they know it, encouraging them.  Witnessing Emma learn the rules needed to navigate her new life while her family is learning how to live after her death illustrates how each member of the Mebane family is experiencing this process together; even at times when they feel less than perfectly on the same page.

A major theme of this book is that grieving is incredibly personal processes that will vary greatly even between individuals in a tremendously close family.  The author's gift to the reader is sharing her own honest, loving, heartfelt account of the greatest loss of her life, as she honors her daughter, Emma.
2508144
I read the reviews for this book and after reading the book, I can understand how both sides feel.  I am one of the people who really enjoyed this book.

Firstly, I thought this book was beautifully written.  It just sort of flowed, like a train of thought, obseriving and relating what is seen and felt.  Second, and I know some people had a problem with this, the book was not overly emotional.  I felt like Sarah's grief was real - you go through periods of sadness, crying...but there is a lot of numbness of a sort.  Like your emotions go into neutral for periods of time while your brain tries to process all the emotions that go with the grief.  All this rang true to me especially considering that Sarah didn't have a full time job or children to distract her on a consistant basis.  She was in a kind of limbo, her life changing from being a married woman living a real life, not a fairy tale, to being a lonely widow who has to find her new path in life and settle her thoughts on a marriage that, while not bad, had its moments that left her searching for answers that could only be answered as a couple.

I can't say the book wasn't kind of predictable but I don't think the mystery was meant to be the point of the story.  It was more about the journey and how Sarah dealt with all that was happening to her, about the subconscious trying to come to terms with a life suddenly changed and all the unresolved issues that are left.

If you are looking for a big mystery, wondrous passion, or an emotional triumph - or breakdown, then this probably isn't what you're looking for.  If you are looking for a tale of grief and the heart's way of dealing with it, then this could be a good book for you.
448656
Tina Bustmante's debut novel is a must read if you have ever lost someone close to your heart, whether through tragedy, normal life circumstances or because of a broken relationship. The characters come to life due to the realistic way their personalities are developed, the use of true-to-life adolescent language and the authentic exploration and treatment of the their feelings and life experiences. The story is compelling, the setting beautifully detailed, and the presence of hope and forgiveness left a significant impact on me. Looking forward to the sequel, as I really came to care about Ellie, her family and her friends.
3548273
The author pens of love and loss in such a way that many will find relatable. She reaches past just girlish pinings to pluck at the sinew of heartache and grief and addresses the thoughts we are left with when love leaves, and doesn't it always die? Her metaphors paint lovely pains of dreams of far away places and the bestial reality of out emotions. Definitely worth reading and re-reading.
4426859
This is a beautiful story about a beautiful soul who passes away and leaves her best friend with the huge problem of continuing to live after she has left her behind. What stands out in this story is how real the emotions are, how raw, and how personal. The author truly understands what it means to experience loss and what it means to have to deal with life when that's the last thing you want to do.
298594
As a former bereavement counselor working over a decade with hospital hospice patients and their families, I value this book for the honest portrayal of the pain, agony and suffering that is inherent when a child or loved one dies. This book may help normalize the experience of grief for those who often feel crazy, lost, empty and estranged. Grief is as individual as a snowflake. And, although our cultural norms are changing, society does not recognize the vulnerability and specific needs of the bereaved. Trina shares her journey through grief and offers the reader insight and hope for a new kind of "normal". Kudos to Trina for having the courage to write about her feelings. How lucky Andy was to have Trina for a mom and likewise for Trina to have Andy for a son!
2199998
This novel depicts the lives of three siblings following the death of their parents. It explores grief, guilt,deception and love. This novel is well written and engages the reader from the first page to the last. I highly recommend this book.
343258
This novel broke my heart in the best of ways--it articulates grief so viscerally I had to put it down a few times and savor the emotions and memories it evoked before I could continue reading. The writing is excellent--funny, tender, erotic, mournful, joyous, and thoughtful in all the right places. The story explores sexuality, its expression in various relationships and circumstances, as well as fielding issues about families (immediate, extended, original/biological, and chosen) and religion within the context of a small town and the people who grew up or moved there; there are no trite resolutions, and pays respect to the complexity of people's lives. I found myself feeling the gamut of emotions while reading: angry at the antagonist(s), disappointed when the protagonists stumbled, and happy when characters found their footing again; I felt like taking a road trip to El Do only to realize that this is fiction. And that's how good Brandon's writing is, and this story--the characters are well-imagined, with strengths and weaknesses, and a place that may never exist has the familiarity of a favorite family vacation spot. I started this review by saying the novel broke my heart--but by the end, it put it back together again. I'm looking forward to the next work by Brandon Witt!