📚Recommended Books on Grief

I recently lost my mother after a short but fierce battle with cancer. Following her passing, I found myself in an unfamiliar emotional landscape, grappling with feelings and triggers that confused me.

I felt adrift, swimming in multiple emotions and working hard to try to understand these. So alongside my own personal counselling, and seeking advice from my sage friends who had gone through similar losses, I turned to books that might help me make sense of it all, at least to some extent.

These are a few of those I found the most helpful:

1. The Dead Moms Club: A Memoir about Death, Grief and Surviving the Mother of all Loses by Kate Spencer

This poignant memoir explores Kate's journey of grief following the death of her mum. It tells about the complexities of loss through a humour and storytelling. Spencer highlights the shared experiences of those who have lost a parent. The book looks at themes of love, loss, memory, community and the impact of grief on personal identity exploring the complexities of mourning while simultaneously providing comfort and insight to those who have gone through the loss of a parent.

🔸 Why I recommend it: When my mum passed away, I logically understood that I wasn't the only one to ever feel this way, but I needed something or someone who really got what it's like to care for a parent who was terminally ill. This book hit home for me, and the title just grabbed me. I found it on Spotify's audiobooks and gave it a listen. It made me feel understood and not so alone in what I was going through.

🔸 Where you can find it:

• FishPond

• Spotify

2. The Long Goodbye: A Memoir by Megan O'Rourke

This memoir dives deep into how trauma affects both our body and mind. Megan O'Rourke looks at how our past experiences can shape our nervous system, behaviours, and overall health. The book shares insights on different healing methods like EMDR, yoga, and neurofeedback, giving readers a well-rounded view of how to bounce back and build resilience. Through her own stories and research, O'Rourke highlights why it's important to address your own trauma for overall well-being.

🔸 Why I recommend it: This is a great read for anyone who’s been through trauma and is dealing with various physical and emotional reactions. Really informative and helpful.

🔸 Where you can find it:

• PaperPlus

• Spotify

3. Grief is a sneaky bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss by Lisa Keefauver

In "Grief is a Sneaky Bitch," Lisa Keefauver explores the messy reality of grief, offering guidance through the emotional rollercoaster of loss. She shares personal stories and insights, emphasising that grief is unpredictable and non-linear. With candid narratives and practical advice, she encourages readers to embrace their emotions, seek support, and discover personal healing paths, providing tools to navigate the challenging journey of loss.

🔸 Why I recommend it: This book was great, a personal favourite tip of mine is to "stop should-ing all over ourselves" and this appeared in Lisa's book! Her super candid and light-hearted way of relaying her grief story and ideas aligned with me. I felt the light with the dark when again listening to this book. I recommend for anyone who isn't worried about too much swearing in a book.

🔸 Where you can find it:

• PaperPlus

• Spotify

Have you read any of these? I’d love to hear what books have supported you lately?