The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: 20th Aniversary Edition

Book Description

Originally published in the fall of 1982, the wonderfully wise and strikingly simple story of a leaf named Freddie has become one of the most popular books of our times. How Freddie and his companion leaves change with the passing seasons, finally falling to the ground with a winters snow, is an inspiring allegory illustrating the delicate balance between life and death.After offering solace for a generation of adults and children alike, The Fall of Freddie the Leaf arrives in a classic edition with a beautiful new package that will appeal to todays readers at a time when stories of comfort and inspiration have become more important than ever.

Customer Reviews:

More Than Grief Counseling.......2007-09-23

Many people first encounter "Freddie" during the times surrounding the deaths of loved ones, but the value of the book goes far beyond grief counseling.
The story of Freddie the Leaf is ultimately not just about death, but about becoming attuned to the cycles of life. As such, it should be bought and read to children regardless of whether a loved one is dying. A large part of the story is concerned with how Freddie lives and relates to the world around him: the other leaves on his tree, the tree itself and to the world surrounding the tree, the people and creatures inhabiting that world and so on.
This is a book about how we relate to the Universe, how we find a place in it that is right for us, and how we see ourselves as part of its inevitable movement. Death is only a part of that movement.
The grief caused by death is, after all, not about the death itself, but rather about the absence of the loved one. The understanding of death does not lessen the pain of that absence, but it does place it in a context that is larger than any specific death.
Freddie's reluctance to let go and fall, is really about his failure to relax into his place in the larger context. Once he sees himself as a part of the Universe, he finds peace and contentment in it. As such, "The Fall of Freddie the Leaf" is an extraordinarily effective way of introducing, not only discussions about death, but discussions with children (and adults, I might add) about the rhythms of life, and how making a good death is largely dependent on living a good and authentic life, as Freddie did.
The book is, after all, sub-titled, "A Story of Life for All Ages," and as such, it deserves to be on everyone's bookshelf whether they are dealing with a death in the family or not.

One of my favorite books.......2007-08-05

One of my favorite books. I send this book instead of flowers to people who have lost a loved one. Will make you cry but in a good way.

Must Have.......2007-05-15

Great book for young kids dealing with the loss of a loved one.

A great comfort..........2007-03-17

I received this book after my grandfather passed away. Coincidentally it was the same year this book was published. I still have it to this day. It is one of the few books that I truly cherish.

Fabulous.......2007-03-14

I love this book. I did a lot of research before purchasing several books for my neices and nephew after their grandpa died at age 62. It is a simple, well written and wonderful book for both children and adults to understand the cycle of life. I'm glad I chose this one.

Through a Season of Grief: Devotions for Your Journey from Mourning to Joy

Average customer rating:

Through a Season of Grief:Devotions for Your Journey From Mourning to Joy
A wonderful tool to work through grief
My pick me upper
Through a Season of Grief
Mom loves this book

Through a Season of Grief: Devotions for Your Journey from Mourning to Joy
Bill Dunn , and Kathy Leonard
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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Devotionals | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Grieving the Loss of a Loved One
Experiencing Grief
Getting to the Other Side of Grief: Overcoming the Loss of a Spouse
When God Doesn't Make Sense
Confessions of a Grieving Christian

ASIN: 0785260145

Book Description

Finding the right words to communicate sympathy to a friend who is grieving is one of the most difficult tasks we face. What do you give when a card or a casserole isn't enough? Deep loss-that of a spouse, parent, child, or close friend-is addressed in a number of books. But Through a Season of Grief, a GriefShare devotional, is devoted to those who are mourning a loss. Grieving is a process that is managed over time. As a gift, this 365-day devotional, the first of its kind, ministers beyond the initial loss and into the coming year of bereavement. Full of biblical comfort and psychologically sound advice, the book features insights from well-known and respected Christian leaders such as Kay Arthur, Larry Crabb, and Jack Hayford.

Customer Reviews:

Through a Season of Grief:Devotions for Your Journey From Mourning to Joy.......2007-04-11

This book has given me great comfort. It has helped me afirm my beliefs in God's plans for me. And it's let me know there are many others who are going through the same feelings as me. It has supported me in my grief.

A wonderful tool to work through grief.......2007-03-12

This is a wonderful tool to work through the journey of grief on the way back to joy. The devotions are inline with the GriefShare support group sessions and video sessions. Each day a person is without a loved one is full of pain and loneliness and this book gives help to work through those days. I wished I had it after my first husband had passed away.

My pick me upper.......2006-11-06

I lost a son last November 19th 2005. He was killed by a semi-truck. I was
depressed all the time. I won't say I'm better But I understand more. He would have been 19 on May 16th 2006. He joined The Army National Guard on the delay program. He just finished Basic Training. He was my 1st born. It was the hardest thing for me to go through. But my dad's friend from church
gave me this book to help me understand also to help me greive. I will say this YOU WILL GREIVE TILL YOU GO TO HEAVEN> Then you will GREIVE NO MORE!!
I reccomand this to anyone who's lost a LOVED ONE!! A GREAT BOOK STILL READING IT OVER AND OVER!!

Through a Season of Grief.......2006-07-15

I lost my husband 63 weeks ago. Dr. James Dobson sent me my first copy of this book and since then I've purchased at least 50 copies and given them as gifts. I've even gotten our funeral home to start stocking these books to give out to people instead of the AfterCare package they gave to me. It is one of the best books I've found when living with grief as a constant companion. No book will ease the pain but this book gives me something to hold onto until I can be with my husband again. I've read it three times and will read from it everyday for the rest of my life.

Mom loves this book.......2006-07-02

My mother read this book after losing Dad. She said it was so helpful to her that she wanted to order a copy for each of her daughters. This is how I came to order 3 copies from Amazon. I have not read the book myself yet, but Mom loves it, and Amazon made the order easy.

A Grief Out of Season: When Your Parents Divorce in Your Adult Years

Average customer rating:

A Survivor
Puts time back into joint
The only book I've found on Gray Divorce
Who knew?
This is an excellent book for adult children of divorce.

A Grief Out of Season: When Your Parents Divorce in Your Adult Years
Noelle Fintushel , and Nancy Hillard
Manufacturer: Little Brown & Co (T)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Divorce | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Way They Were: Dealing with Your Parents' Divorce After a Lifetime of Marriage
Adult Children of Divorce: How to Overcome the Legacy of Your Parents' Breakup and Enjoy Love, Trust, and Intimacy
When Your Parents Divorce (Christian care books)
A Woman's Guide to Healing the Heartbreak of Divorce
The Love They Lost: Living with the Legacy of Our Parents' Divorce

Accessories:

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

ASIN: 0316363510

Customer Reviews:

A Survivor.......2006-08-01

This book came to me shortly after my parents began their divorce when I was 26. Although I had not lived at home since I was 19 and their marriage had never been a happy one, it was earth-shattering, nontheless. The heart-break of it took me by surprise. This book was very helpful in assuring me that my feelings were normal and I was not coming unhinged as I feared. It took about 5 years to get to a place where I'd really worked through the issues the divorce created and/or unearthed, but this book gave me the freedom to take that time, rather than expecting myself to "just get over it". I recommend this book to everyone I meet who is in the midst of this issue, whether an adult child or the divorcing parent of an adult child.

Puts time back into joint.......2005-04-23

I only acquired this book in the later stages of my parents' divorce -- which began in 2000 but lasted for hard 3 years of back-and-forth --- but it made a tremendous difference in how I thought about and understood it, as well as my own more extreme reactions to the news and subsequent events. It helped me to quit minimizing and intellectualizing and to begin to sort through some of the difficult emotions and crises of meaning involved, or trying to attribute them to other things to realize that they were 'normal.' What a huge load it began to take off of my shoulders.

The only book I've found on Gray Divorce.......2005-04-20

This book was the positive turning point in my grief that nothing else was. I have not found anything else published on this subject. I beg you to read this if your parents are divorcing or have divorced when you were an adult. To know you are not alone-is tremendous.

I'll never forget a friend's mother saying to me when I was twenty-two and had recently heard the world-shattering news of my parents divorce of their (happy) thirty-two year marriage, "At least you're grown up. My kids were still children when my husband and I divorced. It was so painful for them."

At that time, the divorce became the single event of my life. It catapulted me into a clinical depression that I could not climb out of for three years, until I sought help. I'm glad I had the courage to do that, or I would not be here today. I'm still not "over" my parents' divorce, which was now 4 years ago. But, the pain does lessen year by year. I still cannot talk about it in casual conversation. This is due to an overwhelming sense of shame and guilt about the divorce and embarrassment that it affected me in such a profound way. I do not feel room for these feelings in our culture so I keep them inside. This is why this book is so important to me. To know that other adult children of divorce feel as I do is a very big deal.

Who knew?.......2000-10-14

Shortly after my husband of 31 years divorced me for a much younger woman, I stumbled across this book, A Grief Out of Season, in the library where I worked. I was stunned to discover a book on this subject, but boy was I glad I found it. I had been unpleasantly surprised to discover that not only had my husband divorced me, but our three grown children as well - unless they would have a relationship with him on his terms. This meant unconditionally accepting his new wife and her four younger children as their new family! Our children's negative reaction to this and the resulting estrangement from their father was a real source of grief to us all. In the book I discovered that our family was not alone, and drew much comfort from the many personal stories that were related therein. The authors really did their homework, plus their personal experiences were invaluable. I immediately wanted to get this book for each of my grown children and was disappointed to learn that it was out-of-print, so I had to be content with relating to them, second-hand as it were, as much of what I had learned as possible. Since then I have been checking with Amazon.com periodically to see if the book has been re-printed. (This at their recommendation.) I hope it will be soon. Lots of people have much to gain by reading it - grown children and their parents as well!

This is an excellent book for adult children of divorce........1998-03-01

As someone whose parents divorced when I was 24, I can say that this book was the best thing that happened to me during that time. Contrary to what those who have never been there believe, adults whose parents are divorcing feel as much pain and grief as young childrenm, and this book lets them know that others have been there and felt the same. It offers insight on many different situations that may occur in later-life divorce, gives practical suggestions, and explores the feelings that children of such divorces share. It is written in real language, not psychology-speak, giving it a humanistic feel. This is the only book published on the subject of adults whose parents divorce in later life, and is a must-read for those adults.

Average customer rating:

One of my survival tools
Gift for the grieving soul
Hard times made easier
Sensitive and compassionate

Seasons of Grief and Healing
James E. Miller
Manufacturer: Augsburg Fortress Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Grief & Bereavement | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Winter Grief, Summer Grace: Returning to Life After a Loved One Dies (Miller, James E., Willowgreen Series.)
The Art of being a Healing Presence
How Can I Help? / What Will Help Me? 12 things to do when someone you know suffers a loss / 12 things to remember when you have suffered a loss (two in one book)
One You Love Is Dying: 12 Thoughts to Guide You on the Journey
When a Man Faces Grief / A Man You Know Is Grieving

ASIN: 0806640367

Book Description

This small book makes a thoughtful, helpful gift for anyone who has lost a loved one. Its low price also makes it affordable as a give-away item from pastors, counselors, lay visitors, and friends.

Drawn from Jim Miller's best-selling Winter Grief, Summer Grace, this book includes the helpful features of the original-a compassionate exploration of feelings; inspiring passages from the Bible, poetry and great literature; and simple renewal activities that help readers move through stages, or "seasons," of grief at their own pace and in their own unique way.

Customer Reviews:

One of my survival tools.......2007-04-10

Following the death of my son, "Seasons of Grief and Healing" was the first book I could actually read (and I mean actually read the sentences and understand and relate to their meanings). I would only read until what the book was saying stopped pretaining to me and how I was feeling. I would later pick up the book and continue to read until, again, it was beyond what I was feeling or could comprehend. I haven't quite finished the book yet...I'm just to that stage yet.

I now give this book to people I know who have lost a very important person in their life hoping that they too will be able to find some encouragements, faith, and/or hope in the words of the quotes, poems and passages within this wonderful book. Thank you Mr. Miller

C. Zillmann (Mike's wife)

Gift for the grieving soul.......2007-01-07

I purchased this book for a friend grieving the loss of her husband. We live across the country and I could not be with her. She said this book is the first with encouragement that she can grieve in her own way on her own schedule. The book is written from a spirit of caring and does not suggest what steps to go through when. The message that "it's in your own time and your own schedule" is precious to her.

Hard times made easier.......2002-03-03

I ordered this book and have ended up giving it away to dear friends. It is perfect to replace the "SYMPATHY" card which often has briefly written comfort words that don't comfort. This book has so many thoughts to let the grieving know they are not alone, and that healing can be ahead. It goes through the seasons of grief and loss. I hope someone will send me one of these book when my turn comes to hurt rather than a card and flowers. I am glad there are comforters who write and understand.

Sensitive and compassionate.......2001-01-23

-but more than that the entire book has a tone of respect, a reverence for life that rings very true. This book has been a gift to myself and my family. Unlike "Pop" psychology guides that might put someone "in their heads"(and out of their feelings), this is an artfully crafted piece that speaks to the heart and soul. Reading this feels like a visit with a wise old friend.

Book Description

The loss of a love is a nearly universal emotional crisis, whether the end is divorce, desertion, or a mutually agreed-upon separation. At first, friends and family are there to offer a shoulder to cry on, but after a few months there's an expectation that we just need to get over the crisis and move on. Thus, unprocessed, painful feelings are buried, leaving us numb. Or we repeat damaging relationship patterns over and over again.

The situation doesn't have to be like that. Healing a Broken Heart guides those of us grieving for a lost love through four metaphorical seasons of recovery with provocative questions -- and journal pages on which to respond -- to help move us forward.

The four seasons serve as powerful metaphors for the stages of the grieving process. Summer is the season for charting the course of a relationship: remembering hopes and expectations, the warning signs that went unheeded. During autumn, journalers accept the reality of breaking up and acknowledge things about the relationship that didn't serve their needs. Winter brings the pain of grief over the profound loss. Finally, spring -- and, with it, renewal -- invites readers to examine and understand how their family history may have affected their past relationships.

Punctuated throughout with poems and moving meditations, the thoughtful, interactive approach of this book offers the time and space we all need to heal when our hearts are broken.

Customer Reviews:

this book healed not only my heart, but my soul.......2005-04-24

When my nearly 3 year relationship ended, I was surprisingly relieved- it had been going nowhere for quite some time. But even in the midst of my newfound freedom and happiness, I knew that I still needed to grieve and learn from my mistakes. This journal was a godsend to me. I didn't want to read an advice book since that was not what I was looking for. This journal allowed me to reflect upon what had happened and then look toward the future. The various anecdotes and poems were extremely helpful as well. This journal also fit well into my life; I am often quite busy, and it really allows you to do as little or as much as you want/need to at a time. I can honestly say that I am completely healed and loving life more now than ever after completing this book.

In-depth way to really heal relationship pain.......2003-10-20

This is one of the best self-help books I've seen. It actually takes you through a process by which you can understand what happened in your relationship and get your thoughts and feelings out so you can move on. It makes you dig deep and think hard as you go back to the root of the problems that interfered with your relationship. The poetry used is a nice touch and the exercises very effective in helping one get to the grief that's left when your heart is broken. The technique the authors use could be applied to healing other emotional pains as well.

The kind of book you can pass along.......2003-10-18

I gave my sister this book after watching her go through 4 major break ups in about as many years. It was a great tool to help her process the repeating patterns. The writing is thorough, but has a gentle tone. The overall design is beautiful and nice to spend time with.

Great!! 5 Stars!!!.......2003-10-16

It's tough for men to find somewhere to express grief over a failed relationship. Even though I have gotten counseling, it hasn't felt like I could cry or get my feelings off my chest as fully as I would have liked. Especially around my friends, even though they are trying to be there for me, it s not a topic that I can really get into with anyone.

My sister gave me the book Healing a Broken Heart because she knew that I was still angry over my ex-wife's affair and eventual divorce. Everyone in my family has suffered because I have been furious with my ex and how she has treated me. I ve tried not to express any of it around my children, but it has been impossible to get over, especially since we share children and have to see each other frequently. I couldn t tell my ex what I was feeling or thinking, I couldn t tell my friends about it, and my family got upset too.

This book was the perfect answer to my dilemma. It has been like having the best friend in the world to help me get through these feelings that wouldn t go away. I worked through three sections of the book, picking the questions that I felt like working on and it was amazing. I have healed from my broken heart by using the tools provided by this book. I feel like I have finally purged myself of the repetitive thoughts that have been torturing me for the last year. Everyone who knows me says that I have changed dramatically and that I am back to my old, upbeat self. More importantly, I feel ready for love again.

Worked for me.......2003-10-16

After the divorce I was devasted. My wife really broke my heart. I had a difficult time doing anything especially thinking about dating again. I really appreaciate the authors of this book, as it has helped find a new life and move on.

Book Description

A Season of Grief chronicles the author's emotional descent after the violent death of his partner of 21 years. Bill Valentine's journal of fear, anger, denial, and loneliness captures the glimmers of hope, moments of serendipity, and mysterious coincidences that emerged from his full-time devotion to grief following the death of Joe Lopes, a flight attendant who perished in November 2001 along with 264 others when American Airlines Flight 587 crashed shortly after takeoff in route to the Dominican Republic. This unique book details the everyday struggles of a surviving partner trying to carry on in a radically changed world.

He is a word always on my lips as I try to work him into a conversation. He is a memory that I strive to keep alive. So yes, in this sense, he is not gone. But in reality, he is. He is gone as my lover. He is gone as my life partner. He is gone as my soul mate, the only person to whom I periodically bared my soul. He is gone as my best friend, the only person to whom I ever attached that label. He is gone as my first reader and muse. Friends will fill in for many of these roles. But Joe filled them all. So pardon me while I still hang on to the notion that he is not here with me. Pardon me while I cling stubbornly to the insistence that he is gone.

Valentine's candid and thoughtful account of his heartbreaking efforts to make sense of his partner's death—and survive in a world without him—is by turns, funny, frightening, sobering, and surprising. In the nine months following the tragedy of Flight 587, Valentine finds every waking moment of his life affected by his partner's absence—from mundane household chores to major life decisions. A Season of Grief is a story told in darkness and light, of hurt and healing, love and loneliness, but mostly, of a man who learns to live with his partner's absence through the persistent, surprising evidence of his presence.

Our job on earth is to live with uncertainty, ambiguity, and hope. We are given a limited tool set but one, in my opinion, that's sufficient for the job. Sufficient to allow us to be engaged in life-to love, grieve, work, play, celebrate, and despair. We have a remarkable ability to rebound and grow. We have been granted the capacity for wonder and laughter-especially at ourselves. These last two gifts were bestowed generously on Joe and he, in turn, taught me how vital they are.

Grief doesn't come with a set of instructions. But A Season of Grief can help guide you through the lonely journey that follows the death of a loved one. Valentine's memoir is a testament to the healing power of reality and the enduring nature of love.

Customer Reviews:

A Tender and Ultimately Life-Enhancing Journey about Grief.......2007-03-01

Grief for the loss of a loved one is not a new topic for current literature. Such luminaries as Joan Didion, Mark Doty, Andrew Holleran, and Michael Cunningham have addressed the grieving process in novel form, poetry, memoir, and homage. And new author Bill Valentine steps into that realm with a brief but richly detailed examination of death, of memory, of residual, of extended family - all of these ingredients and more that underscore the fact that perhaps the loss of his beloved Joe Lopes, his life partner of 21 years in the tragic crash of American Airlines Flight 587 in November of 2001, has provided him with a new window and a new life as a writer of obvious talent.

Valentine presents his story of the 'other AA crash' that occurred in November of 2001 too soon after the 9/11 event to elicit the worldwide attention of that tragedy as a starting point to remember and recreate a relationship of such rare beauty that reading about it is staggeringly impactful. Valentine very wisely does not emphasize the mourning he endured (although his retelling of that aspect is understated and deeply touching), but instead takes the path of the 'ending' to reminisce about not only his meeting and formation of a relationship but also about the backgrounds of both him and his partner, an exceptionally quiet and private sanctuary that allows us the reader to better appreciate the aura of both men.

Some write about grief and mourning in a manner that seems to dig a hole of self pity, and that is most assuredly not the direction Valentine takes. He does not avoid for a second the impact of every detail of the loss of Joe - dealing with family, with the cremation, with friends, with pets, with things shared by the couple that suddenly become the responsibility of one partner, with the 'I' that replaces the 'we' - and yet what he offers us is a warm embrace of survival technique, a memoir as lovely as any that has been written. Valentine steps quietly into the arena of artist with the publication of A SEASON OF GRIEF. Grady Harp, February 07

as much a love story as a book about grief.......2006-12-21

I believe it is safe to say that as Valentine dreamed of a writing career, he never once imagined that he would be writing an exploration of his grief journey following his life partner's death. This book is much more than a memoir of loss. It is a beautiful love song, a testament to the love shared by a couple who worked hard for their relationship.

As a bereaved grandmother, I found Valentine's descriptions of loss to be achingly accurate. Even though each person grieves differently, there is commonality to the emotions. The book opens with Valentine's eulogy, and moves easily back and forth between the time before Joe's death and after. The story of their relationship is an example of life fully lived and of love honored and respected. Valentine handles his grief by facing it head on. He says that the only way to transform the pain is to go through it. He shows us that writing and talking and thinking about the impact of Joe's death is a positive way to cope with the pain. Sharing not only grief but the story of their love is a marvelous memorial to Joe. Now that I've met Joe, I will never forget him.

Very grateful for this book.......2006-07-22

This is an amazing and very powerful book that has helped me so immensely. After losing my partner to a stroke 14 months ago I felt completely alone and isolated in devastating grief. And like a miracle, Bill Valentine was courageous enough to tell his story so eloquently of losing his lover Joe Lopez after 21 years as a couple. They had a remarkable life together that was filled with love, joy and challenges. Their commitment to one another and how they dealt with those challenges is truly inspirational. Dealing with the biggest loss I've ever had has been softened by being able to relate to someone who's also been through it. He was writing my thoughts and feelings as well. And helping me to believe that, yes, life does go on and things do get better with time.

There is such a lack of books dealing with grief and loss for gay men whose partners have died and this was truly a life saver for me. I strongly recommend A Season of Grief to anyone in this situation and any professionals counseling gay men that are working through the same struggle. Thank you Bill Valentine!

Rodney Gardine,
Honolulu, Hawaii

A beautiful expression of the pain of grief.......2006-07-20

I just finished reading "A Season of Grief" by Bill Valentine. This story really touched me. The reality of "raw and unapologetic" grief was so poignant throughout this book. The beauty that was Joe and the relationship that they shared was described in a way that was both heartwarming and heartwrenching at the same time. The raw emotion that Bill felt at this tragic loss was so beautifully expressed page after page - with anger, tenderness, incredulity, compassion, and sheer outrage. The writer portrays a beautiful relationship cut short by a tragic airplane crash - and the aftermath that he has to deal with. Not just the huge emotional and physical void created by Joe's absence, but the challenge of the everday tasks that need to be done upon the death of his long term partner, Joe. Valentine writes of the frequent reminders of Joe that on any given day would cause feelings of such great pain, or feelings of overwhelming solace and comfort. The constant reminders of the beautiful relationship that Joe and Bill had were so very moving. Anyone who has suffered a loss will relate to this book on every level - gay or straight. And anyone who reads this book who has not suffered such a tragic loss will certainly start to appreciate all that they have even more. I highly recommend this book.

Grieving is hard.......2006-03-14

Grieving is a part of life, but it can be grieving for an aged parent who has lived a long and fruitful life or it can be grieving for someone who died an untimely death early in life. The first kind of grief is healing, looking back with honour on a long life well lived. The second kind can be earthshattering, as it not only looks backwards, but tried to look forward into what would have been.

Bill Valentine's book speaks of the second kind of grieving: that for a life-partner who died an untimely, accidental, but brutal death. In speaking of Joe Lopes, he makes Joe come alive for those of us who never knew him. The best works of fiction or non fiction are those that can actually make a character live on the page. After reading the book, I feel as if I knew Joe, and (incidentally) Bill. This is living writing that jumps off the page.

Many of us will suffer such grief, and Bill takes us through his grief, not clinically, but as he lives it. The slow cleaning out of Joe's closet, the mundane details of settling debts, cancelling credit cards, and changing names on mortgages are things that we never think about until they have to be done. We cry with Bill as he goes over the what-if's that would have saved Joe from death in a plane crash in November 2001 over Jamaica Bay.

This isn't a how-to book. It's too immediate for that. But reading it will help those who are even now going through grief at untimely death, and will inspire those who haven't yet gone through such grief. I'm so glad I read it.

Seasons of Grief & Grace: A Sister's Story of AIDS

Average customer rating:

Inspirational!

Seasons of Grief & Grace: A Sister's Story of AIDS
Susan Ford Wiltshire
Manufacturer: Vanderbilt University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Medical | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

AIDS | Disorders & Diseases | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

AIDS & HIV | Diseases | Medicine | Subjects | Books

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Customer Reviews:

Inspirational!.......2003-04-09

I live in Lubbock, Texas, where much of this story takes place, and I happen to know some of the people Dr. Ford mentions. But that was hardly the only reason I wanted to read this compassionate biography. Dr. Ford shows how her brother bravely faced AIDS and the bigotry related to it.

Despite its subject matter, this book is never depressing. Instead, Dr. Ford captures the inspirational aspects of her brother's life and how it touched the lives of people around him. I found her poems about his struggle especially touching and hope she'll share more of those in another book.

Book Description

Seventeen-year-old Brenda Jacobsen comes from a family of tall people. In the small logging town of Hemlock, Washington, being tall makes you better at trimming the high spots on trees or at playing basketball. Brenda's life has always revolved around basketball, particularly the career of her older brother, Benny, the town's rising star. But Benny died in a car accident last year, leaving Brenda and her parents without the star of their family and without a way to fill the huge hole in their lives. Though Hemlock's dreams of basketball glory died along with her brother, Brenda is looking forward to playing on the less important girls' team. This year the girls planned to get the recognition they deservebut that was before their coach left to take a better job. Now they're faced with a new coach, whose offbeat philosophy has the girls reciting lines from poems as they play. It brings them recognition, but not the kind they were hoping for. Still, when the sawmill closes down and Brenda's parents seem to be on the verge of breaking up, she and the rest of the team find inspiration in the last place they'd ever have expected poetry.

Customer Reviews:

The Rhyming Season is a Winner!.......2006-12-08

I am an eleven year old boy and I think that"The Rhyming Season" by Edward Averett is a great book! Brenda Jacobsen (the main character) lives in a small town named Hemlock with her tall, basketball loving family. I liked the way the author made all of the characters in this small town become so real and believable. Even though I am a boy and not yet in high school, I could relate to the challenges that Brenda was going through in the story and was totally absorbed by the basketball games and action packed plot. I like this book because of the way the author combines two very different things together, basketball and poetry.

Powerful, moving, exhilarating, even laugh-out-loud funny.......2006-04-29

In a dying lumber town in the far reaches of Washington State, Averett's heroine is the star of the girls' high-school basketball team. But she lives and plays under the shadow of her brother, the town basketball hero, who died. With a bad home life and a coach who's left the team, this is the story of a season in both hell and heaven.
In a disastrous blow, the school assigns the team a coach who's not only the English teacher but who requires the team to learn and recite poetry -- aloud -- at practice and even during games. How humiliating!
But -- let me leave it there; author Averett pulls magic out of his hat and gives us a thrilling story that's far from the conventional. A wonderful achievement.

Not solely for young adults!.......2006-04-24

Ed Averett's "Rhyming Season" is a moving depiction of grief, loss, and growth for the individuals and the Northwest logging communities. His mixture of poetry and sports is a
delicious element in a story that resonates on many levels.
A great read!
Mary Ann Murphy

A fabulous book!.......2005-09-09

This is a great read. The writing is superb, the story is moving, engaging, and original. I loved the blending of sports and poetry. This is one of the best YA novels I've read in a while. Bravo, Edward! I look forward to reading more books by you.

Healing Your Holiday Grief: 100 Practical Ideas for Blending Mourning and Celebration During the Holiday Season (Healing Your Grieving Heart series)

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Healing Your Holiday Grief: 100 Practical Ideas for Blending Mourning and Celebration During the Holiday Season (Healing Your Grieving Heart series)
Alan D. Wolfelt
Manufacturer: Companion Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Grief & Bereavement | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1879651483

Book Description

With compassionate insight, this handbook helps those in mourning through what can be the hardest time of year—the holiday season. Mourners will better understand their complex emotions after reading about such topics as honoring thoughts and feelings, creating new traditions, finding ways to de-stress, and incorporating healing rituals into the holiday season. This book's practical wisdom also covers issues such as decision-making during the holidays and coping with the blending of mourning and celebration. All of the answers and advice in this guide are provided in the popular 100 ideas format that features one idea per page, allowing readers to fully absorb each suggestion.

The Seasons of Grief: Helping Your Children Through Loss

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The Seasons of Grief: Helping Your Children Through Loss
Donna A. Gaffney
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0453005918

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