Book Review: Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death, and Surviving By Julia Samuel

GRIEF WORKS
Stories of Life, Death, and Surviving

By: Julia Samuel

Published: January 16, 2018

Publisher: Scribner

Non-Fiction



Julia Samuel is a bereavement expert in the United Kingdom. She has spent 25 years working as a grief counselor. She was also a dear friend of Princess Diana and is young Prince George's Godmother. Because death is still such a taboo subject and the grief process is deeply misunderstood, Samuel wrote this book to share stories of those who have suffered great loss and came through it.

In her book, she shares stories of clients who lost parents, spouses, children, siblings, and those who were faced with their own looming death. These stories are like mini vignettes of their counseling sessions, covering the highs and lows of the grief process. Many of her clients suffered from deep depression, alcoholism, fear, and anger. All of these are common emotions and actions when dealing with a loss. Some of the anger that was felt wasn't so much from the death, but how others handled the death. One woman spoke of her deep anger and hurt over a close co-worker who stopped speaking to her after her mother's death. Her friend said a simple "Sorry for your loss" and then never spoke to her again. This loss of a close friend along with her mother hurt her greatly. We don't know why the friend stopped speaking to the bereaved friend, but most likely, it was that she didn't know what to say or do, so it is easier to avoid that to possibly say the wrong thing.

I've read many books on grief and dealing with death and while this one followed similar stories of those left behind to suffer, I felt a bit detached from the personal stories. I can't put my finger on why, but maybe they were written a bit too clinical, being told from the counselor's perspective and not the client. What I appreciated most was the end of the book that dealt with the coping strategies both for the bereaved and for the friends and family of those grieving. After one of my close friends died suddenly this summer, a number of people have asked me how to handle it, knowing that I used to work in Hospice. I found her suggestions to be good reminders for myself when seeing those who are grieving as well as handling my own moments when I remember my friend. Samuel offers important suggestions for those suffering and for others who want to continue to be a friend or support the family member in their home. Whether you are suffering the loss of a parent to old age, a sibling to an accident, or a spouse to a heart attack, you are never prepared for the deep emotions and loss. Having family and friends there for you is critical to surviving in those weeks, months, and years after the death.

I think if you are grieving or know someone close to you who are grieving, this book could be helpful, especially the practical steps and advice at the end of the book. Samuel is obviously a leader in grief counseling and has years of research and experience to back up her advice.

Julia Samuel - source

Julia Samuel is a psychotherapist specializing in grief, who has spent the last twenty-five years working with bereaved families, both in private practice and with England's National Health Service at St. Mary's Paddington, where she pioneered the role of maternity and pediatric counselor. She is founder patron of the charity Child Bereavement UK, where she continues to play a central role. GRIEF WORKS is her first book. For more, check out her website, HERE.


To purchase a copy of GRIEF WORKS, click the photo below:




Check out these other book reviews related to grief:

THE GARDEN OF SMALL BEGINNINGS

THE DAFFODILS STILL GROW

HOSPICE VOICES





Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of the this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to purchase this book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com. 

Book Review: The Garden of Small Beginnings By Abbi Waxman

THE GARDEN OF SMALL BEGINNINGS

By: Abbi Waxman

Published: May 2, 2017

Publisher: Berkley Books

Fiction



You would think that a novel about a woman recently widowed by her much-too-young husband's horrific accident and her sudden entrance into the world of single motherhood would be too sad to read. I may have put this one aside except for the vivid colors on the cover drawing me in. This book couldn't be too depressing with a cover like that, so I gave it a shot. I was pleasantly surprised by the light humor the author gave to the story, convincing the reader that even in our darkest moments we can find something to laugh about.

Lillian is a book illustrator, a single mom to two delightful daughters, a sister, and a daughter to a painfully critical mother.  She is just beginning to get the hang of living life without her husband with the help of her sister who spends many evenings enjoying Lilian's cooking and playing with her nieces. Lilian's employer offers her the opportunity to illustrate a vegetable encyclopedia and decides it would be good for her to take a gardening class to get up-close and personal with the vegetables she will be drawing. Lilian, her sister, and the two girls all attend the weekend classes and find joy in new friendships, delicious food, and maybe a new future full of surprises.

Lilian's sense of humor is light and laughable. Her descriptions of drawing whale penises or her snarky thoughts about the hunky garden instructors will keep the reader laughing and wanting more. Waxman created funny and likable characters (even the overbearing mother) and you want each of them to find their way in the story. Waxman will have you laughing in one chapter and thinking deeply in the next with bits of wisdom mixed with emotion.

Yes there is a bit of romance to this story, but it is handled maturely and not overdone with details that will cause you to cringe or skip paragraphs. Lilian shares true feelings as her heart begins to reopen and her fear and trepidation about the future is real.  This quote from Anais Nin fit so perfectly with Lilian and her feelings, "There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful that the risk it took to blossom."  Lilian has to decide if the risk is worth taking to feel joy once again.

Another fun feature that I enjoyed in the book was that each chapter started with a vegetable. There would be an illustration, much like what I expect Lilian would draw, and an explanation on how to grow that particular vegetable in your garden. Of course, each description has a bit of humor included like not planting strawberries where you have recently planted tomatoes, peppers, or eggplant "because it freaks them out" or radishes need lots of sun and if they don't get it, you'll have to go out and buy them and "lie about your horticultural prowess".

The book comes with discussion questions at the end and would make for an enjoyable book club choice. Its lightheartedness is refreshing to read even amidst the grief that permeates their lives.

Abbi Waxman - source

Abbi Waxman is a chocolate-loving, dog-loving woman, who lives in Los Angeles and lies down as much as possible. She worked in advertising for many years, which is how she learned to write fiction. She has three daughters, three dogs, three cats, and one very patient husband. THE GARDEN OF SMALL BEGINNINGS is her first novel. For more on Waxman, visit her website, HERE.

To purchase a copy of THE GARDEN OF SMALL BEGINNINGS, click the photo below:






Thanks to the publisher for sending an ecopy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to purchase the book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com. 

Children's Book Review: The Daffodils Still Grow By Sherry Elizabeth Tidwell

THE DAFFODILS STILL GROW
A Book for Grieving Daughters

By: Sherri Elizabeth Tidwell

Published: June 2, 2015

Publisher: Mascot Books

Based on a True Story

I'm participating in the PUMP UP YOUR BOOK Blog Tour for Sherri Elizabeth Tidwell's book. For more information and other stops on the tour including author interviews and book reviews, click HERE.

At the age of fourteen, author Sherri Elizabeth Tidwell was left motherless. As an adult looking back on her diary entries, she decided her feelings could be helpful to others in the form of a children's book. After that first year of her mom being gone, she remembered the surprise she felt when the daffodils her mom had planted still bloomed. It was a reminder that Tidwell could carry on, just as the daffodils did.

In this full-color, beautifully illustrated book, Tidwell takes the reader through all the emotions a young girl might face after the death of a mother. She expresses pain at a quiet house, seeing her friends with their moms, and not wanting to get rid of her mom's possessions. The illustrations offer just as much emotion as the words on the page. This isn't an easy topic and certainly not a book you would give to just anyone. But, for girls who are suffering without a mom, the words offer a hug, an understanding, and hope to a grieving child.

As a hospice social worker, I had a difficult time recommending books for young children dealing with grief because, at the time, there just weren't very many out there. It is a hard topic to handle in books and these type of books aren't going to be sitting on the shelves right when you walk in the door of your favorite bookstore. This book handles all those delicate feelings young girls and even teenagers are facing as they try to move through life without a mom.

Sherri Elizabeth Tidwell  

Sherri Elizabeth became motherless at the age of fourteen. Inspired by her own diary entries, the author wrote and illustrated this book for other motherless girls. Sherri Elizabeth now attends Seton Hill University’s MFA program in Writing Popular Fiction. She has a BA in both communications and studio arts from Austin Peay State University. She hopes that every parent will know how irreplaceable and loved they are to their children and that every child who has lost a parent will know they are not alone. Remember, the daffodils still grow! You can find Sherri Elizabeth on Facebook, HERE, and Twitter, HERE.

To purchase a copy of THE DAFFODILS STILL GROW, click the photo below:

I will be linking up this post with other bloggers on Booking Mama's Saturday feature, Kid Konnection. Click HERE, to see other posts related to children's and YA books.


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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this review. If you choose to purchase the book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com. 

Book Review: Hospice Voices By Eric Lindner

HOSPICE VOICES
Lessons for Living at the End of Life

By: Eric Lindner

Published: October 6, 2013

Nonfiction

This review is part of the Virtual Author Book Tour.  For more stops on the HOSPICE VOICES book tour and to read other reviews, click HERE.

Eric Lindner is looking for a way to give back and decides in 2009, to become a Hospice volunteer.  In HOSPICE VOICES, he shares his experiences, his conversations, and the lessons he learned in his time with those at the end of their journey. The book begins with the story of Lindner's first patient, Bob Zimmerman. He was fortunate to have his first patient be someone he was truly able to share some memories with. Throughout the book he then shares about other patients who made an impact on his life and what they taught him about living and about dying.

As a previous Hospice social worker and then volunteer, I was drawn to this book.  Aside from being a mom, working in Hospice was my favorite job.  People always assumed it was depressing and couldn't understand how I could do my job.  What I found was I couldn't wait to go to work every day.  Sure, not all the patients were people that I made a connection with, much like the author, but everyone had a story to tell.

Lindner finds a way to tell their stories that help the reader imagine the people both in their younger days as well as presently.  He shares their secrets with dignity and you can tell he was truly listening and cared about the patients and their families.  I loved that with each patient he found a way to make a connection either through food, through a hobby, or through his talents.  I also appreciated his honesty regarding being nervous about meeting a new patient.  It isn't easy to go into people's homes and feel like you are intruding on their "last days". It truly is a privilege, as a volunteer, to be able to share in that final journey with the patient and their family.  

There is a lot to learn from pages in this book, especially from his humbling Dos and Don'ts chapter at the end.  As you read the stories you will see pain, sadness and the ever-looming terminal diagnosis, but you will also be rewarded with laughter, gratitude and surprisingly, hope.

Eric Lindner 

Eric Lindner is an attorney and entrepreneur. He has been a Hospice volunteer since 2009.  He divides his time between Virginia and Hawaii. For more on Lindner or the book, check out www.HospiceVoices.com. You can also find him on Facebook, HERE and Twitter, HERE.

This review is my honest opinion.  I was provided a copy of the book as part of the book tour with Virtual Author Book Tours.  I was not compensated in any other way for this review. If you choose to purchase the book through the Amazon link above, I will receive a small percentage of the purchase without you having to pay a cent more for the book. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com.