When a Loved One Dies we often go into shock. What has happened doesn't really penetrate. It's only later that we start to experience our emotions, what that person has meant to us. This is when grief and loneliness begin. For many of us this is also the time we start asking questions, like "what does death really mean?" We want to know, and understand. This time of sorrow can also be the start of a new, spiritual path. But whatever our reaction, for almost everyone it means passing through a dark tunnel. It is only beyond the deepest darkness that light begins to dawn again, and we can gradually open ourselves to life once more. When the end of the tunnel comes in sight, you are a different person. Every mourning process is a process of transformation.

This book investigates how social media are reconfiguring dying, death, and mourning. Taking a narrative approach, it argues that dying, death, and mourning are shared online as small stories of the moment, which are organized around transgressive moments and events with motivational, participatory, or connective scope. Through the different case studies discussed, this book presents an empirical framework for analyzing small stories of dying, death and mourning as practices of sharing which become associated with specific modes of affective positioning, i.e. modulations of different degrees of distance or proximity to the death event and the dead, the networked audience(s), and the affective self. The book calls for the study of affect as integral to narrative activity and opens up broader questions about how stories and emotion are mobilized in digital cultures for accruing audiences, value (social or economic), and visibility. It will be of interest to researchers in narrative analysis, the anthropology and sociology of emotion, digital communication, media and cultural studies, and (digital) death and dying.

NAVIGATING GRIEF AND LOSS is designed to support all of us through difficult and upsetting times. It's a relatable and useful guide with practical applications to help navigate the profound experience of loss, be it an elderly parent, succumbing to a lingering illness, the shock of an accidental death, a small business shuttered, a divorce after years of conflict, or euthanasia of a beloved pet. Each short chapter honestly describes a personal experience dealing with death or grief-staying at a hospice facility at my mother's bedside, feeling frustrated by the options for a terminally ill friend, navigating changed relationships after someone dies, the shock and shame of an unwanted divorce, managing the overwhelming pain of bereavement-and is followed by a brief practice-a meditation, exercise, or contemplation that readers can use to discover insights and truths and find some solace for their own struggles and sorrow.

The True Story of an Uncharted Journey Through the Afterlife As a world war raged around him, a young soldier named George Ritchie barely comprehended his own death as he left the physical world--only to return minutes later. Yet in the space between death and coming back to life, he experienced eternity. In this riveting true story, Dr. George Ritchie shares some of the most stunning and detailed descriptions of life after death. You'll encounter other non-physical beings, travel through different dimensions of time and space, and discover a series of worlds--some hellish in their separation from life, some glorious in their heavenly brilliance. But most amazingly, you'll witness his transformational meeting with the Light of the world, the Son of God. Hailed as one of the most amazing visions of the afterlife ever recorded, Ritchie's experience forever changed the course of his life and his understanding of the realm beyond our own--and it can do the same for you.

Winner of the Desmond Elliott Prize 2022 Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2022 Shortlisted for the Goldsmiths Prize 2022 'Original, memorable, shimmering' - Sarah Moss Today I might trace the rungs of her larynx or tap at her trachea like the bones of a xylophone . . . Something gleeful and malevolent is moving in Lia's body, learning her life from the inside out. A shape-shifter. A disaster tourist. It's travelling down the banks of her canals. It's spreading. When a sudden diagnosis upends Lia's world, the boundaries between her past and her present begin to collapse. Deeply buried secrets stir awake. As the voice prowling in Lia takes hold of her story, and the landscape around becomes indistinguishable from the one within, Lia and her family are faced with some of the hardest questions of all: how can we move on from the events that have shaped us, when our bodies harbour everything? And what does it mean to die with grace, when you're simply not ready to let go? Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies is a story of coming of age at the end of a life. Utterly heart-breaking yet darkly funny, Maddie Mortimer's astonishing debut is a symphonic journey through one woman's body: a wild and lyrical celebration of desire, forgiveness and the darkness within us all. 'Restlessly inventive . . . delicate and persuasive' - The Guardian 'Extraordinary, kaleidoscopic' - Daisy Johnson

A USA TODAY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR ( ) "Little and Often is a beautiful memoir of grief, love, the shattered bond between a father and son, and the resurrection of a broken heart. Trent Preszler tells his story with the same level of art and craftsmanship that he brings to his boat making, and he reminds us of creativity's power to transform and heal our lives. This is a powerful and deeply moving book. I won't soon forget it." -Elizabeth Gilbert Trent Preszler thought he was living the life he always wanted, with a job at a winery and a seaside Long Island home, when he was called back to the life he left behind. After years of estrangement, his cancer-stricken father had invited him to South Dakota for Thanksgiving. It would be the last time he saw his father alive. Preszler's only inheritance was a beat-up wooden toolbox that had belonged to his father, who was a cattle rancher, rodeo champion, and Vietnam War Bronze Star Medal recipient. This family heirloom befuddled Preszler. He did not work with his hands-but maybe that was the point. In his grief, he wondered if there was still a way to understand his father, and with that came an epiphany: he would make something with his inheritance. Having no experience or training in woodcraft, driven only by blind will, he decided to build a wooden canoe, and he would aim to paddle it on the first anniversary of his father's death. While Preszler taught himself how to use his father's tools, he confronted unexpected revelations about his father's secret history and his own struggle for self-respect. The grueling challenges of boatbuilding tested his limits, but the canoe became his sole consolation. Gradually, Preszler learned what working with his hands offered: a different per spective on life, and the means to change it. Little and Often is an unflinching account of bereavement and a stirring reflection on the complexities of inheritance. Between his past and his present, and between America's heartland and its coasts, Preszler shows how one can achieve reconciliation through the healing power of creativity. "Insightful, lyrical...Little and Often proves to be a rich tale of self-discovery and reconciliation. Resonating with Robert Pirsig's classic Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, it is a profound father-and-son odyssey that discovers the importance of the beauty of imperfection and small triumphs that make extraordinary happen." -USA Today ( )

When death takes a "special person," it hurts. But it hurts a little less with time. And still less with more time.

One morning you will wake up and your loss will not be the first thing you think about. And then you will know that it's just a bit better than it was in the beginning. . .

A poignant and introspective memoir from Irish journalist and broadcaster Charlie Bird. In 2021, Charlie Bird was diagnosed with motor neurone disease - a man whose voice was so synonymous with his career faced losing it completely. Yet knowing he had just a short time left with family and friends, what emerged was a great sense of resilience and motivation to take advantage of every moment. Here, Charlie reflects on his life and phenomenal broadcast career through the lens of his diagnosis, as he ponders the big questions and takes stock of the small moments that we so often overlook. Written over the course of 2022 as his health deteriorated, with the help of long-time friend and fellow journalist Ray Burke, this is a candid and unforgettable story about the triumph of the human spirit and, ultimately, what it means to be alive.

Ask any woman whose mother has died, and she will tell you that she is irrevocably altered, as deeply changed by her mother's death as she was by her mother's life. Although a mother's mortality is inevitable, no book had discussed the profound, lasting and far-reaching effects of this loss - until Motherless Daughters, which became in instant classic. Over twenty years later, it is still the book that women of all ages look to for comfort and understanding when their mothers die, and the book that they continue to press into each other's hands. Building on interviews with hundreds of mother-loss survivors, the author's personal story of losing her mother and recent research in grief and psychology, Motherless Daughters reveals the shared experiences and core identity issues of motherless women. * * * * * * * 'Motherless Daughters is a timeless source of consolation and information for all who grieve the death of their mother. It highlights that we bear this loss by remembering, not forgetting our mother.' JULIA SAMUEL, author of Grief Works 'Anyone who has lost their mother should read this remarkable, tender book, full of insight and consolation. This is one of those exceptional books that has the power to change your life.' CLOVER STROUD, author of The Wild Other 'Nothing has helped me make more sense of myself than Motherless Daughters; it's the book I go back to again and again, and find something new in it every time.' DECCA AITKENHEAD 'Intelligent, brave, consoling and wise . . . an essential and illuminating must-read for anyone who has lost a mother or loves someone who did.' CHERYL STRAYED, author of Wild 'This book has helped me heal my heart. Finding myself in the stories of other motherless daughters let me know I was not alone. If you have lost your mom - this book is essential.' ROSIE O'DONNELL 'Absorbing . . . insightful . . . a moving and valuable treatment of a neglected subject.' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

What if grief, pain, and loss weren't the end of your story but the beginning of a new chapter? When a mother dies abruptly or before their time, daughters are left with an unmet expectation for a future that no longer exists. This Changes Everything revokes the notion that death has the final say and asks the question, what if grief wasn't the end of your story but the beginning of a new chapter? Every life contains a story that holds tragic, soul-defining chapters deemed unfair, but fairness isn't the rule book for the Author of Life, it's reckless all-consuming love. When grief, especially over the loss of a mother, is viewed through the lens of this unending love, this new view can illuminate a calling or purpose for your life which may otherwise remain locked in the darkness of despair. This Changes Everything: When Death No Longer Has the Final Say is based on a true story of hope, healing, and redemption over life's darkest chapters. It will give readers the courage to follow their God-given calling and help them to see that one choice - to believe their pain has a purpose - changes everything. This Changes Everything is a perfect read for: Those grieving the loss of a loved one Mothers, daughters, and mom's raising daughters Those looking to give their pain a purpose. Find out why author Jennifer Dukes Lee calls Sonya Joy Mack's story, "a magical story that will take you on an incredible journey that will keep you guessing until you reach the final pages." Your pain has a purpose and This Changes Everything could be the beginning of your new chapter.

Guides readers through the emotions and practical concerns of finding love after the death of a partner. Romantic love, in all its permutations, forms one of the most fascinating of human interactions. It also can be one of life's thorniest challenges, especially in a world where relationships often unfold online and, recently, where a pandemic barred face-to-face contact with people outside one's immediate household. Among those seeking romance in increasing numbers is a group that stands apart: the women who, slammed by the death of a spouse, bravely pursue new love. Finding Love After Loss: A Relationship Roadmap for Widows goes to the trenches to interview widows who have embarked, nervously but with hope, on this quest. Their frank and revealing interviews, along with wisdom from relationship experts, provide guidance to other women trying to navigate the relationship scene when their last date might have been decades ago. Where do widows find new partners? How much should they share in their online profile? What do they tell their friends and family? What about getting naked for the first time with a new man? Who pays when the bill appears at a restaurant? More than any time in U.S. history, the country's widows are seeking another chance at romance. The sheer number of widows-11 million, with an average age in the fifties-makes them a formidable force. They are living longer and have broader views on sex and money. Yet it is difficult for them to find their footing. Many of them have been away from the courtship arena for decades. They may make their return to dating with children and in-laws in tow. They are confused by the new rules and unclear on the expectations but convinced that they are capable of loving again. This book, written by a widow and a co-author who dated a widower, details just how powerful, sometimes daunting, and exhilarating the journey to new love can be. It also unveils the extraordinary ways that widows are reshaping the romance landscape: by tossing traditional marriage vows by the roadside, by skipping marriage entirely, or even by committing to a new partner but living apart. This isn't your grandmother's widowhood scene, not by a long shot. Finding Love After Loss examines the crazy, sad, and even zany contributions that people left behind by the death of partner bring to new relationships. At the same time, it reveals both the amazing resilience of women who have lived through great loss and the irresistible pull of human connection.

Using Scripture and personal narrative, Courageously Expecting empathizes with and empowers women to face a pregnancy after loss with faith and courage, despite inevitable feelings of grief and fear that accompany life after losing a baby. Pregnancy is widely regarded as the most joyful time in a woman's life, but for the mother who has experienced pregnancy loss, a subsequent pregnancy can feel like she's holding her breath and hoping for what she can't control. In Courageously Expecting, Jenny Albers meets women in this difficult season as someone who has also experienced the worst and cautiously hoped for the best. Through the telling of her own story, Scripture, and heartfelt prayer, she encourages readers to cling to faith in the face of fear and guides them to cultivate hope when doubt weighs heavy; realize that the past does not dictate the present or the future and that God creates a way in the wilderness of grief and loss; flip the script on the what-if, worst-case-scenario narrative in their minds and learn to take their thoughts captive; and find the courage to humble themselves and ask for and accept help from others. Regardless of where readers are on their pregnancy after loss journey, Courageously Expecting is a companion to help them through the days when fear overshadows hope.

Van die oomblik wat ons gebore word, begin ons ook te sterf. Maar al is die dood een van die algemeenste menslike gebeurtenisse, vermy die meeste mense om daaroor te dink of te praat. Wreed En Mooi Is Die Dood – met bydraes deur gewilde Afrikaanse skrywers – probeer hierdie stilte te verbreek.

Deur hul diep persoonlike verhale oor verlies en heling te deel, bied die bydraers onbewustelik ook raad vir hoe om die hartseer van ’n geliefde se dood te verwerk en hoe om jou eie sterflikheid te konfronteer. So vertel Marita van der Vyver van haar babaseun se dood, terwyl Valda Jansen beskryf hoe sy lamgelê is deur die nuus dat sy kanker het en Kerneels Breytenbach deel sy ervaring van eensaamheid na sy vrou se dood. ’n Paramedikus beskryf sy daaglikse ontmoetings met die dood, daar is ’n lys van dinge wat ’n mens vir ’n sterwende moet sê en nie moet sê nie en ook ’n bespreking van die rituele om die dood. Daar is soms selfs ’n bietjie humor . . . soos die storie oor die jong dominee wat in ’n leë graf geval het en Annelie Botes se voorbereidings vir haar begrafnis.

Dit is ’n aangrypende boek wat beloof om lesers te roer en weer te laat dink oor hulle prioriteite in die lewe.

When Isabel meets Edward, both are at a crossroads: he wants to follow his late wife to the grave, and she is ready to give up on love. Thinking she is merely helping Edward's daughter who lives faraway and has asked her to check in on her nonagenarian dad in New York - -Isabel has no idea that the man in the kitchen baking the sublime roast chicken and light-as-air apricot souffle will end up changing her life. As Edward and Isabel meet weekly for the glorious dinners that Edward prepares, he shares so much more than his recipes for apple galette or the perfect martini, or even his tips for deboning poultry. Edward is teaching Isabel the luxury of slowing down and taking the time to think through everything she does, to deconstruct her own life, cutting it back to the bone and examining the guts, no matter how messy that proves to be. Dinner with Edward is a book about love and nourishment, and about how dinner with a friend can, in the words of M. F. K. Fisher, "sustain us against the hungers of the world."

Anyone who has lost a loved one knows how lonely, aimless, and depressing life can feel afterwards. When Joy Ekwommadu's husband died in a bus accident, it seemed impossible to keep living. Her three children also didn't know what to do, and every day seemed like a struggle. In addition to feeling angry and frustrated, she sometimes felt guilty for being alive when her husband was dead. All of these feelings are normal, and dealing with them gets easier with time. In this memoir, Joy Ekwommadu looks back at her experiences in order to help others memorialize and honour a loved one who has died; appreciate the most important people in your life while they're still alive; deal with the tremendous grief that comes with the loss of a loved one; and understand the feelings of others who have suffered a loss. Be Strong: A Memoir of Bereavement is also a tribute to Joy Ekwommadu's late husband, Marcellinus Chukwuemeka Ekwommadu. He worked hard to be a success and to provide for his family, and his story is one worth reading and remembering.