This is a reasonably interesting story, centered around a man who lost his wife, but extending to his children and their interactions, and reactions, following the death of the wife and mother, and particularly into his initial dating, and then remarriage.
The jacket advertising says that this has practical advice and insights on the subject. It also says that in reading the book you will no longer feel alone. This is pretty much nonsense. While the story is interesting, and it does point out one, but only one of the very many, possible points of contention within a family following the death of one parent, it doesn't really offer practical advice. It is an illustration of the intense loneliness that is associated with grief, and the one of the possible pitfalls in that regard. But there is no analysis of it in terms of grief: it is simply a story, albeit a true one, and, in terms of the book itself, makes no pretense at therapy or advice.
The book, and the family situation, has a very oddly dated feel. On initially reading it, I thought it dated from the 50s or 60s. I was surprised to turn to the back of the title page and found that it was, in fact, published in 1984.
It's a nice story. In some senses it reminded me of "Did Ye Hear Mammy Died?" by Seamus O'Reilly. But it has no particular value to the bereaved.
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