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Grief Bibliography


MartyT

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Grief Bibliography

Originally posted by Dusky, one of our dearest members and author of his own book, Finding My Banana Bread Man: A Journey through Mourning, this is an ever-growing list of books specifically recommended by members our GHDG family. Whenever any of our other members recommends a book, you'll notice that we've added that title as well, along with a link to the post in which their recommendation appears. (Titles are listed in the order in which they've been recommended. To see these same titles listed in alphabetical order, go to Grief Bibliography.)

For your convenience, you can click on any of the book titles listed below, and you'll be taken directly to Amazon's description and reviews of each book on the list. Note that you are under no obligation to purchase from Amazon, but be aware that doing so via the links on this page will help support the maintenance of our Grief Healing websites. Grief Healing is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn modest advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

You will find many of these titles in your local public library, or you can ask if your librarian will order them for you. 

(Note: If you are looking for books written especially for those who are anticipating or coping with the loss of a cherished companion animal, you'll find a list of those here: Books, Book Excerpts on Pet Loss.)

If you have a book that has spoken to you in a special way or that you found to be particularly helpful, please let us know, so we can add it to our list!

1. Surviving the Death of Your Spouse: A Step-by-Step Workbook, by Deborah S. Levinson

2. Caregiving, by Beth Witrogen McLeod

3. Grief's Courageous Journey: A Workbook, by Sandi Caplan and Gordon Lang

4. Life after Loss: A Practical Guide, by Bob Deits

5. Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul, by Jack Canfield and Mark Hanson

6. Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life, by Jon Kabat-Zinn

7. Unattended Sorrow: Recovering from Loss and Reviving the Heart, by Stephen Levine

8. Surviving Grief and Learning to Live Again, by Catherine M. Saunders

9. The Mourning Handbook, by Helen Fitzgerald

10. Healing Your Grieving Heart: 100 Practical Ideas, by Alan D. Wolfelt

11. Life Lessons, by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler

12. How to Go On Living When Someone You Love Dies , by Therese A. Rando (recommended by Cheryl)

13. A Year to Live: How to Live This Year As If It Were Your Last, by Stephen Levine

14. Letting Go With Love: The Grieving Process, by Nancy O'Connor

15. The Dying Time: Practical Wisdom for the Dying and Their Caregivers, by Joan Furman and David McNabb

16. Companion Through the Darkness: Inner Dialogues on Grief , by Stephanie Ericsson (recommended by Boo)

17. Don't Let Death Ruin Your Life: A Practical Guide, by Jill Brooke

18. A Time to Grieve: Meditations for Healing, by Carol Staudacher (recommended by Cheryl)

19. Too Soon Old Too Late Smart: Thirty True Things You Need to Know Now, by Gordon Livingston

20. The Art of Forgiveness, Loving Kindness, and Peace, by Jack Kornfield

21. Grieving Mindfully: A Compassionate and Spiritual Guide to Coping with Loss, by Sameet M. Kumar

22. When your Spouse Dies, by Cathleen L. Curry

23. Five Good Minutes: 100 Morning Practices to Help You Stay Calm and Focused All Day Long, by Jeffrey Brantley and Wendy Millstine

24. Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations for Working through Grief, by Martha W. Hickman

25. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, by Eckhart Tolle

26. Gay Widowers: Life After the Death of a Partner, by Michael Shernoff (Editor)

27. A Journey Through Grief: Gentle, Specific Help, by Alla Renee Bozarth

28. When Bad Things Happen to Good People, by Harold S. Kushner

29. The Grief Recovery Handbook, by John W. James and Russell Friedman

30. Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief, by Pauline Boss

31. The Precious Present, by Spencer Johnson

32. Life After Loss: Conquering Grief and Finding Hope, by Raymond A. Moody, Jr. and Dianne Arcangel

33. Writing to Heal the Soul: Transforming Grief and Loss Through Writing, by Susan Zimmerman

34. Stillness Speaks, by Eckhart Tolle

35. In Lieu of Flowers: A Conversation for the Living, by Nancy Cobb

36. The Other Side and Back: A Psychic's Guide to Our World and Beyond, by Sylvia Browne

37. Blessings from the Other Side: Wisdom and Comfort from the Afterlife for This Life, by Sylvia Browne

38. Change Your Mind and Your Life Will Follow, by Karen Casey

39. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, by Sogyal Rinpoche

40. Seven Choices: Finding Hope after Loss Shatters Your World , by Elizabeth Harper Neeld (recommended by Paul S)

41. Grieving the Death of a Mother, by Harold Ivan Smith (recommended by Paul S and ashleybatt)

42. I'm Grieving As Fast As I Can, by Linda Sones Feinberg (recommended by dpodesta and Rochel)

43. Sibling Grief: Healing after the Death of a Sister or Brother, by P. Gill White (recommended by Kerry)

44. Hello from Heaven, by Bill & Judy Guggenheim (recommended by LoriKelly)

45. Good Grief: Healing Through the Shadow of Loss, by Deborah Morris Coryell (recommended by Chai)

46. Grace for Grief: Daily Comfort for Those Who Mourn, by Michael and Brenda Pink (recommended by Kath)

47. Angel Catcher,by Kathy Eldon and Amy Eldon Turteltaub, recommended by Carole

48. The Year of Magical Thinking, by Joan Didion, recommended by NotCoping

49. When Parents Die, by Rebecca Abrams (recommended by Rachael)

50. The Healing Power of Love: Transcending the Loss of a Spouse to a New Love, by Gloria Lintermans and Marilyn Stoltzman (recommended by MartyT)

51. Loss and Found: How We Survived the Loss of a Young Spouse, by Gary and Kathy Young (recommended by MartyT)

52. Books by John Edward (recommended by Leeann)

53. Talking to Heaven: A Medium's Message of Life After Death, by James Van Praagh (recommended by Leeann)

54. Ghosts Among Us: Uncovering the Truth About the Other Side, by James Van Praagh (recommended by Leeann

55. Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss, by Hope Edelman (recommended by Sherr, Cubby and BellaRosa)

56. Water Bugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children, by Doris Stickney (recommended by Boo Mayhew)

57. A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows through Loss, by Jerry Sittser (recommended by Boo Mayhew and George)

58. No Time For Goodbyes: Coping with Sorrow, Anger, and Injustice After a Tragic Death, by Janice Harris Lord (recommended by MartyT)

59. Life after Death: The Burden of Proof, by Deepak Chopra (recommended by Kavish)

60. Grace for Grief, by Michael and Brenda Pink (recommended by Kath)

61. Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Accepting Life's Adversities by Elizabeth Edwards (recommended by Sharon3)

62. Life After Death: The Burden of Proof by Deepak Chopra (recommended by Kavish)

63. Getting to The Other Side of Grief: Overcoming The Loss of A Spouse by Susan Zonnebelt-Smeenge and Robert C. DeVries (recommended by tjwbrown)

64. I Wasn't Ready To Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping and Healing after the Sudden Death of a Loved One by Brook Noel and Pamela D. Blair, PhD (recommended by slinkybink)

65. Widow to Widow by Genevieve Davis Ginsburg (recommended by Sal and by Marg)

66. The Grief Club by Melody Beattie (recommended by Tracy)

67. Finding Your Way through Grief: A Guide for the First Year (recommended by Tracy and by Brad)

68. When GOD Winks: How the Power of Coincidence Guides Your Life by Squire Rushnell (recommended by Carol Ann)

69. Now: Overcoming Crushing Grief by Living in the Present by Jack Cain (recommended by MartyT)

70. Healing the Adult Child's Grieving Heart: 100 Practical Ideas After Your Parent Dies, by Alan D. Wolfelt, PhD (recommended by Anthony)

71. Anger: Wisdom for Cooling the Flames by Thich Nhat Hahn (recommended by Carol Ann)

72. 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper (recommended by NancyL and by NATS)

73. Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near Death Experiences by Jeffrey Long, MD (recommended by Melina)

74. My Glimpse of Eternity by Betty Malz (recommended by KayC)

75. Conversations with the Other Side by Sylvia Browne (recommended by grace10)

76. Healing the Adult Child's Grieving Heart by Alan D. Wolfelt (recommended by Anthony)

77. How to Survive Your Grief When Someone You Love Has Died by Susan Fuller (recommended by Niamh)

78. Seven Choices: Finding Daylight After Loss Shatters Your World by Elizabeth Harper Neeld (recommended by Boo)

79. Passages in Caregiving: Turning Chaos into Confidence by Gail Sheehy (recommended by Steve)

80. Sacred Grief by Leslee Tessmann (recommended by mfh)

81. The Shack by Wm. Paul Young (recommended by suzie816)

82. Facing the Ultimate Loss: Confronting the Death of a Child by Robert J. Marx and Susan Wengerhoff Davidson (recommended by Carol Ann)

83. The Ultimate Loss: Coping with the Death of a Child by Joan Bordow (recommended by Nicholas)

84. Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love by Matthew Logelin (recommended by MartyT)

85. A Widow's Story: A Memoir by Joyce Carol Oates (recommended by Carol Ann)

86. Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide by Kay Redfield Jamieson (recommended by Nicholas)

87. Love Never Ends by Connie Martin and Barry Dundas (recommended by Becky)

88. A Tearful Celebration by Dr. James Means (recommended by Pat)

89. Healing Through the Dark Emotions: The Wisdom of Grief, Fear and Despair by Miriam Greenspan (recommended by MartyT)

90. The Color of Rain by Michael and Gina Spehn (recommended by Steve)

91. Ask George Anderson: What Souls in the Hereafter Can Teach Us About Life by George Anderson (recommended by Mary)

92. Waking Up: Climbing Through the Darkness by Terry Wise (recommended by MartyT)

93. Loving from the Outside In, Mourning from the Inside Out by Alan D. Wolfelt (recommended by Anne)

94. Levels of Life by Julian Barnes (recommended by Jan)


95. True Refuge: Finding Peace and Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart by Tara Brach (recommended by Mary and Anne

96. Will You Dance? by Annette Childs-Oroz (recommended by Marty T)

97. Growing Wings: A View from Inside the Cocoon by Kristen Jongen (recommended by Marty T)

98. Both Sides Now: A True Story of Love, Loss and Bold Living by Nancy Sharp (recommended by Marty T)

99. Happily Even After: A Guide to Getting Through (and Beyond) The Grief of Widowhood by Carole Brody Fleet (recommended by Marty T)

100. The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief by Francis Weller (recommended by Anne)

101. Leaning Into Love: A Spiritual Journey through Grief by Elaine Mansfield (recommended by Marty T)

102. Stunned by Grief: Remapping Your Life When Loss Changes Everything by Judy Brizendine (recommended by Marty T)

103. On My Own by Diane Rehm (recommended by mfh)

104. About Grief: Insights, Setbacks, Grace Notes, Taboos by Ron Morasco and Brian Shuff (recommended by scba)

105. The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman (recommended by kayc)

106. Permission to Mourn: A New Way to Do Grief  by Tom Zuba (recommended by Marty T and Rochestergal)

107. On Loss and Living Onward: Collected Voices for the Grieving and Those Who Would Mourn With Them by Melissa Dalton-Bradford (recommended by Teresa Bruce)

108.  Gaining Traction - Starting Over After the Death of Your Life Partner by Peggy Panagotacos (recommended by iPraiseHim)

109. Colors of Loss and Healing: An Adult Coloring Book for Getting Through Tough Times by Deborah S. Derman (recommended by Marty T)

110. Grief Diaries: How to Help The Newly Bereaved by Linda Cheldelin Fell, et al (recommended by KATPILOT)

111. Grief Diaries: Loss of Health by Linda Cheldelin Fell (recommended by Anne)

112. Hope and Healing for Transcending Loss: Daily Meditations for Those Who Are Grieving by Ashley Davis Bush (recommended by Maryann)

113. The Tender Scar: Life After the Death of a Spouse by Richard L. Mabry (recommended by iPraiseHim)

114. A Gift of Love: A Widow’s Memoir by Linda Della Donna (recommended by Anne

115. Passed and Present: Keeping Memories of Loved Ones Alive by Allison Gilbert (recommended by Marty T)

116. Tears to Triumph: The Spiritual Journey from Suffering to Enlightenment by Marianne Williamson (recommended by Anne)

117. Grief Is A Journey: Finding Your Path Through Loss by Kenneth J. Doka (recommended by Marty T and Anne)

118. Grieving with Hope: Finding Comfort as You Journey Through Loss by Samuel J. Hodges and Kathy Leonard (recommended by Anne)

119. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi (recommended by Marty T and Anne)

120. Grief One Day At A Time: 365 Meditations to Help You Heal After Loss by Alan Wolfelt (recommended by Marg M)

121. The Gift of Second: Healing from the Impact of Suicide by Brandy Lidbeck (recommended by Marty T)

122. Being There for Someone in Grief  by Marianna Cacciatore (recommended by Marty T)

123. Grief Diaries: Through the Eyes of Men by Fell, Jones and Hochhaus (recommended by Marty T)

124. There Is No Good Card for This: What To Say and Do When Life Is Scary, Awful, and Unfair to People You Love by Kelsey Crowe and Emily McDowell (recommended by Marty T)

125. Disaster Falls: A Family Story by Stephane Gerson (recommended by Marty T)

126. Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant (recommended by iPraiseHim)

127. Never Long Enough by Rabbi Joseph Krakoff and Dr. Michelle Sider (recommended by Marty T)

128. A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis (recommended by kayc)

129. Bearing The Unbearable: Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief by Joanne Cacciatore (recommended by Anne)

130. Ruthless Grieving: The Journey to Acceptance and Beyond by Susan Powers (recommended by TomPB)

131. Getting Grief Right: Finding Your Story of Love in The Sorrow of Loss by Patrick O'Malley and Tim Madigan (recommended by Marty T)

132. We Get It: Voices of Grieving College Students and Young Adults by Heather Servaty-Seib and David Fajgenbaum (recommended by Marty T)

133. Life After the Diagnosis: Expert Advice on Living Well with Serious Illness for Patients and Caregivers by Steven Z. Pantilat, MD (recommended by Marty T)

134. It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand by Megan Devine (recommended by Anne and Marty T)

135. I Will Always Love You and I Will Always Love You Journal by Melissa Lyons (recommended by Marty T)

136. Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brené Brown (recommended by Anne)

137. One Mindful Day at a Time: 365 Daily Meditations for Living in the Now by Alan D. Wolfelt (recommended by Anne)

138. A to Z Healing Toolbox: A Practical Guide for Navigating Grief and Trauma with Intention by Susan Hannifin-MacNab (recommended by Marty T)

139. When Their World Stops: The Essential Guide to TRULY Helping Anyone in Grief by Anne-Marie Lockmyer (recommended by Marty T)

140. Heart Prayers: Poems, Prayers and Meditations by Peggy A. Haymes (recommended by Anne)

141. You Are Not Alone: A Heartfelt Guide for Grief, Healing, and Hope by Debbie Augenthaler (recommended by Marty T)

142.  When Your Soulmate Dies: A Guide to Healing Through Heroic Mourning by Alan D. Wolfelt (recommended by Marty T)

143. The Group: Seven Widowed Fathers Reimagine Life by Donald L. Rosenstein and Justin M. Yopp (recommended by Marty T)

144. Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence by Dr. Daniel Siegel, MD (recommended by Anne)

145. Falling Awake: How to Practice Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn (recommended by Anne)

146. The Joke’s Over, You Can Come Back Now: How This Widow Plowed Through Grief and Survived by Laurie Burrows Grad (recommended by Marty T)

147. Comfort for Grieving Hearts: Hope and Encouragement in Times of Loss by Gary Roe (recommended by Anne)

148. Becoming Radiant: A New Way to Do Life Following the Death of a Beloved by Tom Zuba (recommended by Anne)

149. A Place in My Heart: When Our Pets Die by Barbara Karnes (recommended by Anne)

150. The Green Burial Guidebook: Everything You Need to Plan an Affordable, Environmentally Friendly Burial by Elizabeth Fournier (recommended by Marty T)

151. Grief Day by Day: Simple Practices and Daily Guidance for Living with Loss by Jan Warner (recommended by Anne)

152. What to Do When I'm Gone: A Mother's Wisdom to Her Daughter by by Suzy Hopkins and Hallie Bateman (recommended by Melissa Gouty)

153. Liberating Losses: When Death Brings Relief by Jennifer Elison and Chris McGonigle (recommended by kayc)

154. Grief Diaries: Through The Eyes of A Widow by Lynda Cheldelin Fell and Maryann Mueller (recommended by Marty T)

155. It's Okay to Laugh (Crying Is Cool Too) by Nora McInerney Purmont (recommended by kayc)

156. A Companion for the Hospice Journey: Thoughts on Life's Tough Decisions by Larry Patten (recommended by Marty T)

157. Mourning and Mitzvah: A Guided Journal for Walking the Mourner’s Path Through Grief to Healing (25th Anniversary Edition) 3rd Edition by Rabbi Anne Brener (recommended by Marty T)

158. That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour, by Sunita Puri (recommended by Marty T)

159. The Unexpected Journey of Caring: The Transformation from Loved One to Caregiver by Donna Thompson and Zachary White (recommended by Marty T)

160. Grief Diaries: Surviving Sudden Loss by Lynda Cheldelin Fell and Maryann Mueller (recommended by Maryann)

161. Touching Heaven: A Cardiologist's Encounter with Death and Living Proof of an Afterlife by Chauncey Crandall (recommended by Jackie - Richard)

162. Grief and God: When Religion Does More Harm Than Healing by Terri Daniel (recommended by Marty T)

163. Sex After Grief: Navigating Your Sexuality After Losing Your Beloved by Joan Price (recommended by Marty T)

164. Carried Within Me: Echoes of Infant Loss from Bereaved Parents by Joann Cantrell (recommended by Marty T)

165. The Sudden Loss Survival Guide: Seven Essential Practices for Healing Grief by Chelsea Hanson (recommended by Marty T)

166. Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief by David Kessler (recommended by Marty T)

167. When Your Heart Is Broken by Cheryl Kennard (recommended by Marty T)

168. Death Is But A Dream: Finding Hope and Meaning At Life's End by Christopher Kerr (recommended by Marty T)

169. Help, Thanks, Wow by Anne Lamott (recommended by Anne)

170. Living Beautifully by Pema Chodron (recommended by Anne)

171. Comfort for the Grieving Adult Child's Heart - Hope and Healing After Losing Your Parent by Gary Roe (recommended by Anne)

172. All of Us Warriors: Cancer Stories of Survival and Loss by Rebecca Whitehead Munn (recommended by Marty T)

173. God Got A Dog by Cynthia Ryland (recommended by Marty T)

174. Dying with Ease: A Compassionate Guide for Making Wiser End-of-Life Decisions by Jeff Spiess, MD (recommended by Marty T)

175. The Language of Loss: Poetry and Prose for Grieving and Celebrating the Love of Your Life by Barbara Abercrombie (Ed.) (recommended by Marty T)

176. Missing You: An Adult Coloring Book for Grief, Loss and Comfort by Naomi Nakamura (recommended by Anne)

177. Heartbroken: Healing from the Loss of A Spouse by Gary Roe (recommended by kayc)

178. Please Be Patient, I'm Grieving by Gary Roe (recommended by kayc)

179. A Beginner's Guide to The End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death by BJ Miller, MD and Shoshana Berger (recommended by Marty T)

180. Rock On: Mining For Joy in The Deep River of Sibling Loss by Susan E. Casey (recommended by Marty T)

181. At Heaven's Door: What Shared Journeys to the Afterlife Teach About Dying Well and Living Better by William J. Peters (recommended by Marty T)

182. Celebration of Sisters: It's Never Too Late to Grieve by Judy Lipson (recommended by Marty T)

183. Different after You: Rediscovering Yourself and Healing after Grief and Trauma by Michele Neff Hernandez (recommended by Marty T)

184. Daisy A Day: Hope for A Grieving Heart by Harriet Hodgson (recommended by Marty T)

185. Grief Doodling: Bringing Back Your Smiles by Harriet Hodgson (recommended by Marty T)

186. The AfterGrief: Finding Your Way Along The Long Arc of Loss by Hope Edelman

187. Beyond Loss in A Pandemic: Find Hope and Move Through Grief After Someone Close to You Dies by Linda Donovan (recommended by Marty T)

188. Silver Butterfly Wings: Signs from The Other Side by Wendy Willow (recommended by Marty T)

189. Love, Mom by Jalyn Scott and Allison Scott Westman (recommended by Marty T)

190. Still Mine by Jayne Pillemer (recommended by Marty T)

191. Heartbreak to Hope: Poems of Support for Grief and Loss by Kara Bowman (recommended by Marty T)

192. Sushi Tuesdays by Charlotte Maya (recommended by Marty T)

193. Two Envelopes: What You Want Your Loved Ones to Know When You Die by Rusty Rosman (recommended by Marty T)

Edited by MartyT
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  • 6 months later...

thanks Marty, this is so useful. But it has an added use! I just found that by clicking on various member names (because you cleverly added links to the posts where members recommend the books), not only did it put some context around why the book was recommended, BUT it also gave me a quick tour around issues that we were talking about weeks or months ago, and I thought .... wow, we have all made progress. Albeit small. But we all have. And I never thought I would.

Thanks Marty, just wanted to let you know that it had an added bonus for me today :-)

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  • 2 weeks later...

I do not see this book recommended anywhere and I found it to be one worthy of adding, Marty. If I am wrong, please delete my suggestion so there is not a double recommendation. It is available on Amazon. I checked your grief healing bookstore and this link. 

A Gift of Love: A Widow’s Memoir by Linda Della Donna is not a new book but one I totally related to after my husband died. Her story is tenderly told as she relives her husband’s journey through cancer and then death. It is told as though you are sitting with her having coffee. A real love story ~ even with all the sadness you are left with a glimmer of hope.

 

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  • 1 month later...

I would like to suggest that this is a book worth adding to our list, Marty.

Tears of Triumph by Marianne Williamson is not the first book I’ve read by her but it is a book that has helped me to grow in my journey from deep sorrow after the loss of my beloved Jim to a spiritual healing that allows some peace as I learn to live with this pain. I would recommend this book as one that has a lesson for all of us.

Grieving is not an illness. We need to honor grief. We can work through all the seasons of our life. Sometimes there will be light moments and sometimes there will be dark moments. In grief both are normal. I think.

Tears to Triumph: The Spiritual Journey from Suffering to Enlightenment by Marianne Williamson. 2016

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  • 3 weeks later...

Recommending Grief Is A Journey: Finding Your Path Through Loss by Dr. Kenneth Doka, Ph.D. 2016

I took Ken Doka’s book with me last weekend when I treated myself to a weekend Spa Retreat at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Scottsdale, AZ. It is one of the things that I gifted myself with as I learn how to live this new life without Jim. The weekend was good. I spent time in reflection walking the grounds, walking the labyrinth, and listening to our speaker, Pam, who gave motivational in sites in allowing change to happen in our lives.  This was my second retreat since Jim died. I find it a healing place and wish it is closer to where I live.

 I know Marty already added this book to our Grief Bibliography but I want to add my recommendation.

Grief does not come in stages and Ken Doka sheds new light on this myth. I liked the way he tells this story by sharing stories from those who have walked the loss of someone special in our lives. We hear again from him how no two people experience grief in the same way. He talks about the importance of having rituals that become helpful in our grief journey. And most important to me is that we have an opportunity for growth as we grieve.

Yes, I would recommend this book for reading. It is a book that I will keep on my reading shelves to refer to when other losses cross my path.

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Grieving with Hope: Finding Comfort as You Journey Through Loss by Samuel J. IV Hodges and Kathy Leonard. I think this book is listed in the grief-healing bookstore, Marty, but not in the above list.

This is not a new book but it does have some good ideas discussing how our grief does not move along a straight line ~ a lesson most of us learn the hard way. One minute you’re going along doing okay and the next you might be doubled over feeling like you’ve been hit with a steel ball.

The book may not be for everyone since it does incorporate some Bible text and points out how the verse might relate to grief.

Both authors do give information as to how to move through our loss keeping in mind that there is hope for all of us.  I would recommend this book.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 4 weeks later...

Mindfulness and Grief by Barbara Karnes, RN

We don’t heal from grief. We don’t recover from grief. We learn how to live with grief. Our life will never be the same again but time will begin to fill in the space between the pain that we feel over our loss.”

I have been reading Barbara’s works for several years now and I believe she has solid information on this topic as well as topics concerned with end-of-life issues.

I have not completed her book but I would highly recommend it from my personal knowledge of all her other works.

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Of course, you are correct, Marty. The author of the book is indeed Heather Stang. Her book is the one I am reading right now.

The article I was referring to was named Mindfulness and Grief shown here: http://mindfulnessandgrief.com/that-is-what-grieving-is-like/  by Barbara Karnes. My mind has been in a fog the last few days caring for Fred! Sorry for my confusion. 

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It's okay, dear Anne. Barbara Karnes is one of my very favorite people, and the piece you've mentioned in your post is terrific. Barbara speaks in a voice that is crystal clear and so easy to understand. She also speaks with the authority of a hospice nurse who knows death and dying (and grief) from the inside out. I love her. And I love you for always finding and sharing with us such wonderful and useful resources. You and your darling granddoggy are in our prayers ~ and Fred is blessed to have you as his grandma. 

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  • 3 weeks later...

I am so excited. Finally, we are beginning to recognize that grief is worthy of talking about it. Over the last months, there have been many books and articles being written about how we recognize and walk through our grief. My latest reads have been Francis Weller’s Wild Edge of Sorrow, Sharon Sandberg & Adam Grant’s book Option B, Sharon Salzberg’s latest book, Real Love, and finally today another book that to me is a must read by Dr. Joanne Cacciatore & Adam Grant titled Bearing the Unbearable that will arrive in my mailbox in a day or two. I have patiently waited weeks for it.

I have spent years reading about grief and have found some very excellent teachers who spread their knowledge about grief to all of us who will open ourselves to it. I cannot begin to list all of these people here but my purpose is to express my belief that the more knowledgeable we become about this subject the more we are able to allow ourselves the gift of grieving. Today I wait for two things ~ one is for my book Bearing the Unbearable by Dr. Joanne Cacciatore & Adam Grant to arrive and the second is to hear what my cardiac doctor has to say about the results of my latest tests do to my heart failure.

Please put this book Bearing the Unbearable out there for fellow grievers to read, Marty. I will write a recommendation as soon as I read it.  I just know it will be one of those books I will read more than once.  

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It helps to have validation for how we are feeling, what we have experienced.  Anne, I wait with you for your results, please keep me abreast.  (((hugs)))

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My recommendation of Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief by Dr. Joanne Cacciatore is a five-star (highest for Amazon) read. It is a book that I will read more than once. Story after story shows the courageous leap we take when we are faced with any life-changing events.

Bearing the Unbearable by Dr. Joanne Cacciatore is a heart stopping account of people who have gone through life changing trauma due to a significant loss.  Each account is heart stopping and raw and left me in tears. This is a book of lessons. It is teaching me the lesson of compassion. It is a teacher of understanding different cultures. It teaches me that I do not have to grieve in silence but that I can openly share my story and somehow begin to heal as I embrace my loss. It is a book that gives us permission to grieve openly and without the pressure of a time limit.  

                                                           

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  • 2 weeks later...

This book by Megan Devine has already been listed by Marty but I wanted to give my recommendation also. 

It’s OK That You’re Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand

by Megan Devine

Well, I am through the first reading of her book and found it to be filled with wisdom and a definite knowledge of what it means to lose a loved one. We have heard that there is no time limit in grief and it really is OK to not be OK.

I have marked so many sentences in her book that I will be going back to. Three that I’ve marked but it is so difficult to list only three: p. 10 “What I would have given to see my reality reflected back to me.”  P.15 “It’ isn’t “wrong” and it can’t be “fixed.” It isn’t an illness to be cured.” P.24 “Grief is not a problem to be solved; it’s an experience to be carried.”

I recommend this book to all who grieve.

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This is a common saying of our pastor's.  His is not grief but anxiety/depression, which plagues so many people.  I am finding more and more of the time that the things I've learned on my grief journey can be applied in other areas of life.  It is a journey laden with wisdom...I just never knew until I encountered loss and grief.

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Brené Brown’s Braving the Wilderness ~ The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone is another book I am reading on my latest reading list.

I have been a fan of Brené Brown’s for a very long time.  Her books are ones I read more than once. Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone is her latest book. My thought is how do we belong in a world that is so divided? How do I remain who I am? The book is reminding me of a book I read so many years ago titled The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. How do we remain ‘real’ in an adult world? I’m glad I have it in my library now even though it is not my favorite I still recommend it.

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Excellent message for our time!

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Just saw this ~ Sharing:

BRENÉ BROWN: BRAVING THE WILDERNESS & HOW WE CAN BELONG TO EACH OTHER & OURSELVES

This conversation will likely go down as one of my MarieTV all-time favorites.

We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, including:

  • Why we can’t stay silent on social issues due to fear of criticism or getting it wrong (Brené has a BA, MA and PhD plus 10 years of experience and still gets nervous)
  • How to stay brave and civil while having difficult social and political conversations
  • The vital distinction between dehumanizing and rehumanizing — this is crucial for us to understand and practice if we hope to heal the polarization in our country and world
  • Why we must practice “braving” if we want to stay connected to ourselves and others
  • How shaming others you disagree with never leads to positive outcomes
  • The 5 words Maya Angelou shared that have shaped Brené’s speaking career

And so much more.

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