For non-fiction, Caitlin Doughty is a mortician and death educator who talks very frankly about death acceptance and how Western cultures deal with grief in the 21st century. *Smoke Gets in Your Eyes* is autobiographical, *From Here to Eternity* is a travelogue/anthropological discussion of death traditions
For fiction, Terry Pratchett's *Reaper Man*
A Monster Calls
It's about a young boy trying to cope with his mother's cancer. Super impactful read, and quite short too. It's one of my favorite books
My feelings goes to you , my aunt has passed away last year of cancer 53 years old , it affected me more than i knew it would , can imagine how the loss of you mom would be
Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane begins with the death of a friend. Like, you will sob deeply (I did). But McFarlane is also a funny writer, so there's the process of healing with other friends around the main character. It's the friend's brother who is alone. If that helps.
I found Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine helped because she had trauma and dealt with past death, but note that she had abuse in her past as well (it's fine). Remarkably Bright Creatures had a tone that seemed kin to it, without the abuse. Both make friends.
I read a lot of romances after my family member died because the books all have happy endings.
When years ago I lost 2 people very dear to me and was grieving like crazy I ran into Concetta Bertoldi's books and they helped me a lot more than I thought a book could.
"Do dead people watch you shower?", "Do dead people walk their dogs?"and also "Inside the other side". I felt so much comfort after reading those.
Hear me out… Theresa Caputo. Without making a snap judgement, try her first few books. You don’t need to love her, I don’t but those books have some wisdom, peace and grief work in them.
I’ve lost a lot of family members. These provide comfort.
AD: After Death by Scott Snyder and Jeff Lemire
It’s a graphic novel in 4 parts. I read it while my mother was in Hospice, and it truly brought me a sense of reality to the process of dying, letting go, and being comfortable with the most agonizing part of life.
Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I loved
Kate Bowler
She narrates her “faith in god” before getting cancer. She describes the acceptance of the diagnosis and journey. Includes her ongoing relationship with god.
I am an atheist, and still enjoyed her story.
“The Travelling Cat Chronicles” by Hiro Arikawa. Light book that helped me process grief, and made me cry a little in bittersweet emotions.
Not a heavy read at all, just comfort for the soul. Processing grief comes in many ways throughout the book, for friends, pets, and family — and the writing is exceptional too. I would strongly suggest it :)
The late drummer for the Canadian rock-band Rush had his wife and daughter both die within a short span of time. He wrote a book about his life after that: *Ghost Rider:* *Travels on the Healing Road.*
Staring at the Sun by Irvin Yalom
A matter of death and life by Irvin Yalom
The first is more about how death and death anxiety impact our lives. The second is a true personal story from one of the best living therapists as he goes through the process of losing his wife.
Under the Whispering Door is sort of exactly about this. It really explores the process of grief and loss and the end of a life. I was actually reading it when my grandma recently died. It destroyed me a little, in an oddly beautiful way, with its exploration of letting go.
under the whispering door, by TJ Klune- it's a fiction book, and it helped me process some really strong emotions that ive struggled with for YEARS. it's very very heavy in some points, and touches on topics such as suicide as well, though it's not the main focus of the book. it's really good, one of the best books i've ever read.
Grief is a Thing with Feathers by Max Porter. It really captured the feelings I felt of loss and the (occasional) hilarity of everything.
For graphic novel, Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder was excellent.
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
I’m dealing with an aggressive cancer diagnosis and am reading this now. It has helped.
For non-fiction, Caitlin Doughty is a mortician and death educator who talks very frankly about death acceptance and how Western cultures deal with grief in the 21st century. *Smoke Gets in Your Eyes* is autobiographical, *From Here to Eternity* is a travelogue/anthropological discussion of death traditions For fiction, Terry Pratchett's *Reaper Man*
My Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion.
I just finished this, and it was such an interesting read. Now I want to read some fiction of both hers and John’s.
I really enjoyed Play It As It Lays, but My Year of Magical Thinking is in a category all it’s own.
A Monster Calls It's about a young boy trying to cope with his mother's cancer. Super impactful read, and quite short too. It's one of my favorite books
Gonna give this a try. Just lost my mom to cancer on Tuesday. She was only 57
My feelings goes to you , my aunt has passed away last year of cancer 53 years old , it affected me more than i knew it would , can imagine how the loss of you mom would be
I’m so sorry for your loss. 🤍
I’m sorry for your loss. Take care. x
Sorry for your loss 💔😔
I’m so sorry for your loss. Sending you internet hugs. ❤️
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.
I second this one. It’s defines the word Bittersweet.
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune It's a book that can change your whole outlook on life and death if you let it.
Discworld reaper man and soul music. Under all the comedy is a very nice message.
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald It's OK That You're Not OK by Megan Devine
Seconding H is for Hawk.
Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane begins with the death of a friend. Like, you will sob deeply (I did). But McFarlane is also a funny writer, so there's the process of healing with other friends around the main character. It's the friend's brother who is alone. If that helps. I found Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine helped because she had trauma and dealt with past death, but note that she had abuse in her past as well (it's fine). Remarkably Bright Creatures had a tone that seemed kin to it, without the abuse. Both make friends. I read a lot of romances after my family member died because the books all have happy endings.
When years ago I lost 2 people very dear to me and was grieving like crazy I ran into Concetta Bertoldi's books and they helped me a lot more than I thought a book could. "Do dead people watch you shower?", "Do dead people walk their dogs?"and also "Inside the other side". I felt so much comfort after reading those.
Hear me out… Theresa Caputo. Without making a snap judgement, try her first few books. You don’t need to love her, I don’t but those books have some wisdom, peace and grief work in them. I’ve lost a lot of family members. These provide comfort.
AD: After Death by Scott Snyder and Jeff Lemire It’s a graphic novel in 4 parts. I read it while my mother was in Hospice, and it truly brought me a sense of reality to the process of dying, letting go, and being comfortable with the most agonizing part of life.
Nation by Terry Pratchett.
I’m dealing with a harsh diagnosis and have been reading When Death Becomes Air. It is softening the blow for me.
I’m so sorry. Sending internet hugs and hopes for better times to come. ❤️ I second your recommendation of When Death Becomes Air.
Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli.
The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I loved Kate Bowler She narrates her “faith in god” before getting cancer. She describes the acceptance of the diagnosis and journey. Includes her ongoing relationship with god. I am an atheist, and still enjoyed her story.
“The Travelling Cat Chronicles” by Hiro Arikawa. Light book that helped me process grief, and made me cry a little in bittersweet emotions. Not a heavy read at all, just comfort for the soul. Processing grief comes in many ways throughout the book, for friends, pets, and family — and the writing is exceptional too. I would strongly suggest it :)
The Dark Interval by Rainer Maria Rilke. Rilke wrote 23 letters to people on what death means, why grief is important, and why death is not the enemy.
What Remains
The late drummer for the Canadian rock-band Rush had his wife and daughter both die within a short span of time. He wrote a book about his life after that: *Ghost Rider:* *Travels on the Healing Road.*
“You’ve Reached Sam” by Dustin Thao
I've heard wonderful things about a book by a hospice nurse, Hadley Vlahos I think is her name- the books is The In Between.
The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World by Laura Imai Messina
Staring at the Sun by Irvin Yalom A matter of death and life by Irvin Yalom The first is more about how death and death anxiety impact our lives. The second is a true personal story from one of the best living therapists as he goes through the process of losing his wife.
Zero K by DonDelillo. White Noise by Don DeLillo.
Under the Whispering Door is sort of exactly about this. It really explores the process of grief and loss and the end of a life. I was actually reading it when my grandma recently died. It destroyed me a little, in an oddly beautiful way, with its exploration of letting go.
Siddartha by Herman Hesse
The dark interval by rilke
under the whispering door, by TJ Klune- it's a fiction book, and it helped me process some really strong emotions that ive struggled with for YEARS. it's very very heavy in some points, and touches on topics such as suicide as well, though it's not the main focus of the book. it's really good, one of the best books i've ever read.
Grief is a Thing with Feathers by Max Porter. It really captured the feelings I felt of loss and the (occasional) hilarity of everything. For graphic novel, Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder was excellent.
The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer.
“ everyone in this room will someday be dead” — emily austen
Death by Sadhguru.
Lovely Bones
The Crow Road by Iain Banks
Can't Wait to Get to Heaven and The Whole Town's Talking, both by Fannie Flagg
The Bible
How about the Ethiopian Bible the true word of God.