This book is remarkable. I'll start with that. I'd read the reviews and requested it from the library but once I picked it up, I wasn't sure that it was such a good idea to read it. This memoir is the story of the tragic and unexpected death of the author's two year old child. Why would I want to read that? I have plenty of sadness and grief in my life. Why read about more? I decided to be brave and start it. I figured I didn't have to finish it.
And the first half was brutal. Jayson Greene has a way with words. His writing often borders on poetry . I am awed by how he could write so poignantly and beautifully about the details around the day his daughter was injured and the following days of heartbreaking but essential tasks. He paints both the light and joyful pictures of a two year old's life as well as the dark and despairing pictures of grieving parents, family, and friends and he does it with grace and eloquence. I found the pages almost unbearable to read.
And so, after the second chapter I considered putting the book down forever. I wondered if maybe to continue reading would just not be a good idea for me. Too sad. I decided to look at the reviews on Goodreads and that's when I realized that there was more to this book than the day Greta died and the days following. I read reviews where people wrote of transformation and beauty, of strength and courage, of hope and a future. I decided to keep going. And when I did, I found all of those things.
This turned out to be a book that reminds me to keep my eyes open for miracles. It reminds me that there is so much more going on than is visible. It showed me that grief hurts and grief heals. I highly recommend this memoir.
*Originally published on Wordpress 06.26.2019
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