Reader Notes
This book is recommended reading for anyone who has experienced a loss or would like to support others who have.
Recommended Audience
This book is recommended for adults of all ages.
Review
Candid conversations about grief. Beginners welcome.
Modern Loss is one of those books you can pick up, put back down, and pick up again without missing a beat, but frankly, it might be hard to stop reading once you start. Each chapter is its own story, a personal reflection as told by the famous (rocker Amanda Palmer, CNN’s Brian Stelter) and the not so famous (a spouse, a parent, a child - people like most of us who go about our days without that annoying hassle of the paparazzi). But all 40 contributors have one thing in common: they’ve all experienced loss.
Their poignant and refreshingly honest stories about life, love and the realities of grief are something to which many of us can relate but perhaps have never felt comfortable expressing. You won’t find “He’s in a better place.” or “Everything happens for a reason.” in this book. Instead, you’ll be invited into a world of real, raw emotion – sadness, anger, doubt, and regret, with, running throughout, a vein of humor that complements these complex emotions with a healthy dose of levity.
While no two people grieve the same way, you’ll likely relate in some way to one or more of the book’s contributors. You may also find yourself reflected in beautiful hand-drawn illustrations and how-to’s throughout this thoughtful, relatable – and yes, thoroughly modern – book about grief.
Rebecca Soffer was a guest on the Remembering A Life podcast - listen to her interview!
Discussion Prompts
- Did this book inspire you to look at grief differently? If so, how?
- What was your favorite illustration in this book? Why do you think it resonated with you?
- How have you grieved a loss in the past and how has how you grieve evolved over the years?
- What role, if any, has humor played in helping you grieve a loss?
- How do you feel when you find yourself laughing in the midst of grieving? Is it comfortable? Uncomfortable?
About the Reviewer
This book was read and is recommended by the Remembering A Life team.