Novels dealing with grief

[rosebudtwinkletoes]

Hello,

I find solace in books and am looking for recommendations for novels (not self-help) that deal with or are about grief.

My incredible Mum has passed away and i am looking for some reads that can help me through this.

Any authors but nothing trashy if possible.

Thank you so much.

Solace by Belinda McKeown. Literary fiction, set in Dublin and rural Longford. The aftermath of bereavement is a central theme, and it's well and seriously handled.

These two are poetry but very readable - A Scattering by Christopher Reid, written during his wife's terminal illness and following her death. And, Grief is the Thing With Feathers by Max Porter.

Not fiction, but thematically you might like A Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion.

One of Penelope Lively's novels covers this theme. There must be others and this one has a title!!

Is humour allowed? I loved How to Talk to a Widower. It is very funny.

When I was ready to deal with death after losing my DM I read Me Before You, The Last Act of Love and When Breath Becomes Air. The first two I had cathartic sobbing to, the last in retrospect I wasn't ready for.

I read my late Mum's favourite book.

I did that too!! I'm literally listening to it now on the train on Audible!

Another vote for A Year of Magical Thinking.

Or H is for Hawk

Sorry about your mum OP

I just finished 'all the time in the world' by Caroline angell. It was beautiful

Levels of Life by Julian Barnes examines the issue of loss and of his own grief, following the death of his wife.

Aw I came to recommend How to Talk to a Widower as well. I thought it was lovely.

Could we recommend flicks, too?
I simply adore Me, Earl and the Dying Girl.

In the springtime of the year by Susan Hill
It's about a young woman's grief following the death of her husband.
I'm sorry about your Mum

'If the spirit moves you' is a beautiful memoir by Justine Picardi following her sister Ruth Picardis death.

What I loved - Siri Hustvedt

Is anyone there - Marian Keyes

Under an Amber Sky set in Montenegro is one woman's emotional journey after the unexpected loss of her husband

I'm so sorry to hear about your mum. My mum died just over 2 years ago and it would have been her birthday today. I've read lots of grief memoirs over the past 2 years. I've found them very uplifting and really helped

My favourite is last act of love by Cathy retzenbrink. I did floor me but it's essential reading. She's just published a follow up called manual for heartache. It's like a short self help book but it has a huge heart and warmth. It's for anyone who has dealt with any loss.

I just finished when breath become air today. Devastating but it's about celebrating life.

The Joan didion book year of magical thinking is good too.

Also travelling with ghosts by Shannon leone fowler. Amazing book.

My friend gave me grief is a thing with feathers by max porter. It really helped me and brought me comfort.

If none of these give you comfort then I recommend bereavement counselling. I did it and it transformed my thinking and gave me clarity.

Good luck, it's a process you have to go through and there is no right or wrong way to do it just embrace it.

Maggie O'Farrell 'After You'd Gone'.

The child in time by Ian Mckeown deals with the loss of a child. A very involving read and does end on a positive note.

Paul Auster wrote the Invention of Solitude after the death of his father. I'm not to keen of his later work but this is really good. Different though, it deals with secrets in the family. So sorry about your mum. Mine passed away almost 10 years ago, I can't believe it's been so long.

The light between the Oceans, is a very sensitive book dealing with loss.

Hi. Sorry to hear about your Mum. My Mum died in Jan from a long battle with Alzheimer's. I always read aloud to her right up to the end - we were half way through Wuthering Heights which she loved. I aim to finish the book before the end of the year but can't bring myself to do it yet. I have found it comforting to reread some of her favourite authors and will definitely take a look at some of the books suggested by others here. Thanks for starting the thread, books can be very cathartic!

I second Maggie O'Farrell After You'd Gone.
And I know this is going to sound a bit off the wall but the Harry Potter books. I think they are a lot about grief.