Books That Inspire

Books have played an essential role in my life. I used to love mysteries until Mike died, and then the thought of dealing with death was too much. Also, they didn’t capture the grittiness of emotions that you go through when someone you love dies. Instead, I started reading books by people on the same journey I was on. They gave me hope that I could make it through this heartbreaking time. I was also drawn to works of fiction that understood the complexity of grief. On this page, I will share the books that I found helpful.

On this page, I will share the books that I found helpful.

 Signs of Life by Natalie Taylor

I read Natalie Taylor’s book twice: before Mike died and the year he died. At 24 and 5 months pregnant, her husband Josh died suddenly in a freak accident. The book covers the period from Josh’s death through their son Kai’s first birthday. The first time I read it, I did not understand the depth of her grief. I had so much empathy as she was navigating being a widow and a single mom. When I read it the second time. It was like Natalie was speaking to me. Although my kids were 22 and 18, her perspective on grief and trying to figure things out in uncharted territory was utterly familiar. Although Natalie’s story differed from mine, the emotional roller coaster was the same. I came away from reading this book with a sense of hope that I would survive my grief, which I needed.

The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World by Laura Imai Messina

I recently found this profound book of fiction at the library. This fictional story is inspired by actual events that occurred after the March 11, 2011 tsunami in northeastern Japan. Itaru Sasaki built a phone booth with a non-working phone in his garden a few months after his cousin died. After the tsunami, people began to use the “wind phone” to talk to their loved ones who had been killed and whom they didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to. People also used it to talk to people who died from other causes as well. This beautiful work of fiction follows the two main characters, Yui, who has lost her daughter and mother to the tsunami, and Takeshi, whose wife has died from an illness, as their lives intertwine at the wind phone on “Whale Mountain.” Besides the beautiful prose, Messina captures how grief affects everyone differently and how healing is continual. I also love that there is a special place in the garden where you can speak with your loved one. It’s very comforting.

Saturday Night Widows: The Adventures of Six Friends Remaking Their Lives by Becky Aikman

Going it alone after the death of a spouse, no matter the circumstances, is challenging, especially if you’re young when it happens. In this memoir, Becky Aikman describes a journey with five other young widows as they navigate their new lives. They met once a month, participating in different activities. This was another hopeful book, as I saw many different paths were open to exploring. It also showed me that love was possible after the death of my husband.

Where the Hell is God? by Richard Leonard, S.J.

This book is short but powerful in reflecting on how God is portrayed in times of tragedy, leaving the bereaved feeling angrier and hurt than comforted. What I found most helpful is that Leonard refuted these clichés. Instead, he showed that God could be found in the love that surrounded us. Even if you’re not a religious person, the points he makes are helpful.