Book recommendations for my friend who has just lost her mum please

[Jadedbuthappy82]

Dear all, my dear friend has just lost her mum after several months of awful decline with Alzheimer's. It wasn't a shock or sudden but her mum was her world and we go back a long way.... I live far away from her now and I'd like to send her a book to help comfort her in her grief.

Does anybody have any suggestion please, so grateful. Thank you x

I bought a book called Wild Hope by an author called Donna Ashworth just after my Dad died. I wouldn't say that poetry is something I'm that into but this book is beautiful, and the sort of thing that you can dip in and out of.

Ps she is a Christian and prefers British authors x

What kind of book were you thinking? As in a nice comforting fiction story or something offering a particular type of story or non-fiction?

I'm struggling to think of anything. I couldn't concentrate on books after my mum died so I'm probably the wrong person for this question, but replying to bump your post.

Thank you so much for replying, I don't really know... It's more that she herself gives books to me, when I'm celebrating or struggling... Books are her thing. So I thought sending her a book might help her but I just don't know where to start. Maybe I need to rethink x

A poetry collection of a poem a day. I’ve got several. I’ve also got Brian Bilston 's poem a day which is informative as well as clever. If you are grieving it’s difficult to concentrate. Books of short stories by Elizabeth Taylor? Or E M Delafield's Diary of a Provincial Lady. Anything by Virago press.

You are not alone by cariad Lloyd

The winter of our lives by Sarah Barnes if she's in anyway a wild swimmer for a bit of escapism and reality of 50ish age women.

I'd agree with poetry. Someone gave me The Poetry Pharmacy after dh died which is lovely. Or the Candlestick Press have a lovely publication called In Memoriam but it's only a booklet.

The madness of grief by Richard Coles. Helped me after I lost my mum x

Id also suggest wild hope by Donna ashworth. Beautiful book. She shares lots of her poems on Facebook so you could have a look see if you think your friend would like it before you buy.

Ah it sounds like it would be something she would appreciate then.

I think pp's suggestion of a poem per day or short stories type book might be one to explore? Less pressure if it's something to dip in and out of.

I have a copy of this book below just because it struck me as soothing (a calm poem at the end of the day when it's quiet kind of thing). This particular one may not be quite the right fit for your friend but maybe you could investigate along those lines?

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9781849946223?gC=5a105e8b&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw7NmzBhBLEiwAxrHQ-Zii5xOVeV5AZn1b_osf9VbWHppnwGL12IFryRgIRABT2KQKz0G7_BoCcJMQAvD_BwE

(Other shops available, just wanted to use a non-amazon link.)

If she is Christian and likes British authors I highly highly recommend C S Lewis, A Grief Observed. It is old but oh, so good. He goes through all the searing stages of both grief and anger with, at, and about God. I’ve read the madness of grief too (also by a Christian author, the Reverend Richard Coles), but actually Lewis’s book is much more of a hand out in the darkness, much easier to identify with, less full of specific, very personal experience than Coles’s book. My deepest sympathy for your friend.

Thank you all so very much for taking the time to reply with some lovely ideas. Really grateful xxx

You sound lovely & thoughtful OP. I just want to echo what others have said that at this early stage it might be hard for her to concentrate so a book of poems sounds ideal.

Life is sad and beautiful.

The author speaks of his mums passing and how is life changed and how it is now.

Just to go a little different in our family we go trashy with grief. “Worthy”, deep and meaningful books are too much. Maybe in a few months when the rawness has worn off, and you can reflect without it bringing everything back.

light hearted, funny, blockbuster style is preferred to provide a bit of easy to follow escapism. My mum went through mills and boon like mad when she lost my dad. I preferred a bit of jilly cooper 😂

I’d peruse the best seller lists and see if there’s something that will suit her. Maybe not jilly or Jackie if she’s Christian, what about one of the action style books?

eta if she likes British authors, what about Mary Wesley? I enjoyed the Camomile Lawn and the Vaccillations of Poppy Carew :)

Thank you all for your help xxx