Review of Living Forward After Loss

[Unsullied]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Living Forward After Loss" by Kathleen Ho.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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One thing I have learnt about life over time is that it goes on. It can be so devastating to think that even in our darkest moments, life never waits for us to get better. The sun still rises and sets, businesses still continue, people still move and governments are still run. I had never thought I'd ever see the positive side of this till I read Kathleen Ho's book, Living Forward After Loss. The book seeks to help people mourning those they love in a world that moves on.

Kathleen has been through hell. She lost the love of her life to stroke back in 2015. In her book, she narrates how horrific and dark those days were. She explains to us how vulnerable and weak she felt in the days leading to David's death and even those that followed. She became depressed and even thought of ending her life. I love that the story does not end with her in that dark place. She also tells the story of how she survived and overcame that grief. She gives step-by-step narrations of the kind of activities, quotes and people who helped her reset and calm her mind. It gets interesting as she delves into a little philosophy to encourage anyone that could be going through what she went through. Her story if one of possibility and hope.

This book was so refreshing. I am an optimist and absolutely love it when someone gives hope to the world through writing. The language and quotes the author used in the book speak pure optimism. I also loved how honest the author was with her experience. She writes so frankly about what she felt in the wake of her husband's death. For instance, she admits it would have been difficult to take care of her paralyzed husband had he survived that stroke attack and that she preferred to let him go. This may not be an option most people would take but Ho is comfortable expressing exactly what she feels.

I liked that the book was short and hence not exhausting to read. The last thing you need when grieving is a long and stressful read. The language the author used was simple and easy to comprehend. I also loved that Ho included important questions at the end of the chapters in the book. They can be very vital guides for people who want to overcome their grief in the same way she did. They can also be used by the readers to measure their healing progress. I have to say that the recommendations that Ho puts across in the book seem practical. They are also reassuring as she talks from her personal experience about things that already worked for her.

I also enjoyed that the author was able to make me feel what she felt. The pain cannot be equal but I shed a little tear as I pictured the scene where David dies holding her wife and smiling as he took those last gasps of air.

There was nothing I disliked about this book. I therefore gave it a perfect rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I'd recommend it to anyone going through a period of mourning or loss of any kind.

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Living Forward After Loss
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[Nqobile Mashinini Tshabalala]

I like the book title. It doesn't say moving forward, it says living forward because as you correctly put it, life goes forward, whether you want it to or not. Losing a loved one can never be easy. I hope the author found some healing when writing this book. Awesome review!

[Unsullied]

I like the book title. It doesn't say moving forward, it says living forward because as you correctly put it, life goes forward, whether you want it to or not. Losing a loved one can never be easy. I hope the author found some healing when writing this book. Awesome review!

I agree that losing a loved one can never be easy, I share your hopes for the author's healing too. Thanks for passing by.

[markodim721]

I am glad that someone has devoted himself in a realistic and practical way to a topic that each of us will sooner or later encounter.

[Unsullied]

I think this is the kind of book I'd need to set aside and pick up when going through a tough time. Thank you for the review!

You surely won't go wrong with that. Thanks for commenting.

[NetMassimo]

Losing a loved one can be devastating, so any hand coming to support you in a dark time when you feel you're falling into the abyss is welcome. Thank you for your great review!

[AbhyarnaAman]

I believe one can read this book even if not grieving themselves, may be to feel the loss of someone else

[Wesusa]

Great Review! Definitely got me interested to see what the book is about, thanks!

[Brandy_Nyongesa]

Grief can be very painful. This book will help people to learn how to deal with the loss of a loved one. Great review.

[Brandy_Nyongesa]

The loss of a loved one can be very devastating. I appreciate the book as it a good self help book when one is dealing with grief

[Unsullied]

Losing a loved one can be devastating, so any hand coming to support you in a dark time when you feel you're falling into the abyss is welcome. Thank you for your great review!

The book certainly offers great support. Thanks for commenting.

[Unsullied]

I believe one can read this book even if not grieving themselves, may be to feel the loss of someone else

True, even though the real feeling of losing someone can only be felt by those at loss, this book gives the reader a pinch of what it feels like. Thanks for passing by.

[Unsullied]

Great Review! Definitely got me interested to see what the book is about, thanks!

Thank you Wesusa, I'm sure you'll love it.

[Unsullied]

Grief can be very painful. This book will help people to learn how to deal with the loss of a loved one. Great review.

It cannot do away with the pain, but it helps deal with the it. Thank you for commenting, Brandy.

[VictoriousReader]

I read the book, and I must commend the author on her honesty. Letting go of a loved one is not easy, yet she new her husband would not live the quality of life he wanted if she did not let him go. Thank you for the great review.