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Dead Mom Walking: A Memoir of Miracle Cures and Other Disasters
By Rachel Matlow. 2020
"A hilarious memoir of effervescent misadventures." --Toronto Star"How am I laughing at someone's mother's cancer? How? We think we can't…
laugh about death, about cancer, about our mothers and their suffering . . . and we can't, but we can. And there's so much relief in that. I laughed, I cried, I laughed and laughed and laughed." --Carolyn Taylor, BARONESS VON SKETCH SHOWA traumedy about life and death (and every cosmic joke in between)When her mother is diagnosed with cancer, Rachel Matlow is concerned but hopeful. It's Stage 1, so her mom will get surgery and everything will go back to normal. But growing up in Rachel's family, there was no normal. Elaine, an alternative school teacher and self-help junkie, was never a capital M "Mommy"--she spent more time meditating than packing lunches--and Rachel, who played hockey with the boys and refused to ever wear a dress, was no ordinary daughter.When Elaine decides to forgo conventional treatment and heal herself naturally, Rachel is forced to ponder whether the very things that made her mom so special--her independent spirit, her belief in being the author of her own story--are what will ultimately kill her. As the cancer progresses, so does Elaine's conviction in doing things her way. She assembles a dream team of alternative healers, gulps down herbal tinctures with every meal, and talks (with respect) to her cancer cells. Anxious and confused, Rachel is torn between indulging her pie-in-the-sky pursuits (ayahuasca and all) and pleading with the person who's taking her mother away.With irreverence and honesty--and a little help from Elaine's journals and self-published dating guide, plus hours of conversations recorded in her dying days--Matlow brings her inimitable mother to life on the page. Dead Mom Walking is the hilarious and heartfelt story of what happens when two people who've always written their own script go head to head with each other, and with life's least forgiving plot device.Still: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Motherhood
By Emma Hansen. 2020
“Still is one of those rare books that catches you up and does not let you go. With grace, courage,…
and honesty, Emma Hansen adds an important voice to this tragic and too-often silenced subject. I loved this book.” —Beth Powning, author of Shadow Child: An Apprenticeship in Love and Loss A moving, candid account of one woman’s experience with stillbirth.Emma Hansen is 39 weeks and 6 days pregnant when she feels her baby go quiet inside of her. At the hospital, her worst fears are confirmed: doctors explain that her baby has died, and she will need to deliver him, still.Hansen gives birth to her son, Reid, amidst an avalanche of grief. Nine days later, she publishes a candid essay on her website sharing photos from the delivery room. Much to her surprise, her essay goes viral, sparking positive reactions around the world. Still shares what comes next: a struggle with grief and confusion alongside a desire to better understand stillbirth, which is experienced by more than two million women annually, but rarely talked about in public.At once honest, brave, and uplifting, Still is about one woman’s search for her own definition of motherhood, even as she faces one of life’s greatest challenges: learning to live after loss.On Consolation: Finding Solace in Dark Times
By Michael Ignatieff. 2021
Timely and profound philosophical meditations on how great figures in history, literature, music, and art searched for solace while facing…
tragedies and crises, from the internationally renowned historian of ideas and Booker Prize-finalist Michael Ignatieff.When someone we love dies, when we suffer loss or defeat, when catastrophe strikes--war, famine, pandemic--we go in search of consolation. Once the province of priests and philosophers, the language of consolation has largely vanished from our modern vocabulary, and the places where it was offered, houses of religion, are often empty. Rejecting the solace of ancient religious texts, humanity since the sixteenth century has increasingly placed its faith in science, ideology, and the therapeutic.How do we console each other and ourselves in an age of unbelief? In a series of lapidary meditations on writers, artists, musicians, and their works--from the books of Job and Psalms to Albert Camus, Anna Akhmatova, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and Primo Levi--esteemed writer and historian Michael Ignatieff shows how men and women in extremity have looked to each other across time to recover hope and resilience. Recreating the moments when great figures found the courage to confront their fate and the determination to continue unafraid, On Consolation takes those stories into the present, movingly contending that we can revive these traditions of consolation to meet the anguish and uncertainties of our precarious twenty-first century.Three Funerals for My Father: Love, Loss and Escape from Vietnam
By Jolie Phuong Hoang. 2021
What would you risk to save your children? Jolie Phuong Hoang grew up as one of ten children, part of…
a loving, prosperous Vietnamese family. All that changed after the communists took over in 1975. Identified as a potential “bad element,” the family lived in constant fear of being sent to the dreaded new economic zone. Desperate to ensure the family’s safety and to provide a future for his children, Jolie’s father arranged three separate escapes. The first was a failure that cost most of their fortune, but the second was successful—six of his children reached Indonesia and ultimately settled in Canada. He and his youngest daughter drowned during the disastrous third attempt. Told from the author’s perspective and that of her father’s ghost, Three Funerals for My Father is a poignant story of love, grief and resilience that spans three countries and fifty years. In an era when anti-Asian racism is on the rise and the issue of human migration is front-page news, Three Funerals for My Father provides a vivid and timely first-hand account of what it is like to risk everything for a chance at freedom. It is at once an intimate story of one family, a testament to the collective experience of the “boat people” who escaped communist Vietnam, and a plea on behalf of the millions of refugees currently seeking asylum across the globe.Holden After and Before: Love Letter for a Son Lost to Overdose
By Tara McGuire. 2022
Holden After and Before is a moving meditation on grief in the same vein as Helen Macdonald's H is for…
Hawk: a stunning book that traces Tara McGuire's excavation and documentation of the life path of her son Holden, a graffiti artist who died of an accidental opioid overdose at the age of twenty-one. Beginning with Holden's death and leaping through time and space, McGuire employs fact, investigation, memory, fantasy, and even fabrication in her search for understanding not only of her son's tragic death, but also of his beautiful life. She navigates and writes across the many blank spaces to form a story of discovery and humanity, examining themes of grief, pain, mental illness, trauma, creative expression, identity, and deep, unending love inside just one of the thousands of deaths that have occurred as a result of the opioid crisis. With poignant honesty and a heart laid bare, Holden After and Before is a beautiful and moving elegy to a son lost to overdose.The Probability of Everything
By Sarah Everett. 2023
“One of the best books I have read this year (maybe ever).” —Colby Sharp, Nerdy Book ClubNPR Books We Love…
2023 | Publishers Weekly Best of 2023 | Winner of the Governor General's Literary Awards for Young People's LiteratureA heart-wrenching middle grade debut about Kemi, an aspiring scientist who loves statistics and facts, as she navigates grief and loss at a moment when life as she knows it changes forever.Eleven-year-old Kemi Carter loves scientific facts, specifically probability. It's how she understands the world and her place in it. Kemi knows her odds of being born were 1 in 5.5 trillion and that the odds of her having the best family ever were even lower. Yet somehow, Kemi lucked out.But everything Kemi thought she knew changes when she sees an asteroid hover in the sky, casting a purple haze over her world. Amplus-68 has an 84.7% chance of colliding with earth in four days, and with that collision, Kemi’s life as she knows it will end.But over the course of the four days, even facts don’t feel true to Kemi anymore. The new town she moved to that was supposed to be “better for her family” isn’t very welcoming. And Amplus-68 is taking over her life, but others are still going to school and eating at their favorite diner like nothing has changed. Is Kemi the only one who feels like the world is ending?With the days numbered, Kemi decides to put together a time capsule that will capture her family’s truth: how creative her mother is, how inquisitive her little sister can be, and how much Kemi's whole world revolves around her father. But no time capsule can change the truth behind all of it, that Kemi must face the most inevitable and hardest part of life: saying goodbye."My heart hurt as I raced through the last chapters of this unique book that shines a light on family, friends, grief, and love." —Lisa Yee, author of Maizy Chen's Last ChanceExpecting: Everything You Need to Know about Pregnancy, Labour and Birth
By Anna McGrail, Daphne Metland. 2013
Anna and Daphne have combined their many years of experience, producing an interesting and well written book based on fact…
rather than opinion, covering conception to postnatal. Most expecting mothers will not be seen by the NHS until around 12 weeks of pregnancy, and this book provides the advice and reassurance needed during this time. It also features a 'read your week of pregnancy', which offers mothers the opportunity to monitor symptoms that can indicate different things at different stages of the pregnancy. Issues broached in the book include: conception difficulties, what tests to opt for, how to break the news at work, when to tell an older child, taking your partner to the scan, opting for a caesarean.Tracks of a Fellow Struggler: Living and Growing through Grief
By John R. Claypool. 1974
With over a million copies sold one s pastor s personal experience with devastating grief…
and learning to heal through faith has touched countless hearts John Claypool had been a pastor for almost two decades ministering to others who suffered through the loss of loved ones when loss hit home with the death of his eight-year-old daughter In Tracks of a Fellow Struggler Rev Claypool shares his own journey through the darkness of heartbreaking grief through four extraordinary sermons The first was delivered just eleven days after his daughter s diagnosis of leukemia the second after her first major relapse nine months later and the third weeks after her death The final sermon an inspiring reflection on the process of grieving was preached three years later Loss is something we must all cope with and one of the greatest spiritual challenges is sustaining faith when life seems most unfair sometimes tragic With a depth of compassion born of his own personal experience the author of Mending the Heart brings emotional comfort and spiritual strength to anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved onePrecious Babies: Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting after Infertility
By Kate Brian. 2011
Infertility never leaves you no matter what the outcome is - it does shape you and it shapes the way…
you bring your children up.One in six couples finds it difficult to conceive, and many thousands of babies are born in the UK every year as a result of fertility treatment. For women who finally have that long-awaited positive pregnancy test, the expectation is that they will now be the same as any other pregnant woman. The reality is that the experience of infertility continues to resonate during pregnancy, birth and often long afterwards. Packed with case histories and informed by expert advice, this is the first book to address the specific practical and emotional issues experienced by women who have struggled to become pregnant and provides much-needed reassurance and support.Contents include: The long-awaited positive result; Pregnancy; Birth; The early days; Postnatal depression; Family life; Trying again; An only child; More than one (twins etc); The teenage years and beyond; Donor families; Miscarriage.The Lazy Girl's Guide to a Blissful Pregnancy
By Anita Naik. 2011
THE LAZY GIRL'S GUIDE TO A BLISSFUL PREGNANCY is your guide to getting pregnant, being pregnant and life after pregnancy.…
It's for all girls who want to find the less stressed way to be pregnant but are too busy to wade through all the books, leaflets and advice. It's about the stuff that's tricky such as how to work when you have 24 hour fatigue and morning sickness. And the stuff that's annoying such as how to deal with the myriad of medical, anecdotal and personal advice thrown at you. But most of all THE LAZY GIRL'S GUIDE TO A BLISSFUL PREGNANCY is about the parts of being pregnant that secretly worry you - pregnancy sex, first time parenting, meeting your new baby and how to avoid turning your chic house into a large oversized playroom! Crammed full of:* Expert advice on pre and post pregnancy fashion and beauty* Essential mum tips on first time motherhood, and surviving labour* Smart advice on the emotional, physical and lifestyle changes of pregnancyTHE LAZY GIRL'S GUIDE TO A BLISSFUL PREGNANCY is your comprehensive and down-to-earth guide to staying sane through nine months and beyond.From Heartbreak to Wholeness: The Hero's Journey to Joy
By Kristine Carlson. 2018
A guidebook for discovering how heartbreak can become the doorway to profound meaning and joy from the bestselling co-creator of…
the Don t Sweat the Small Stuff SeriesIn 2006 after building the bestselling franchise Don t Sweat the Small Stuff with her husband Richard Kristine Carlson faced a shattering loss the sudden death of her beloved spouse Woven together with the remarkable stories of others loss and recovery her deeply moving story reveals a clear process of healing that is common to everyone and goes far beyond ordinary prescriptions for getting through hard times In her new book From Heartbreak to Wholeness Kristine offers a life-altering map for navigating the heroic journey from loss to joy one that ultimately awakens readers to a deep love affair with life Every day people suffer heartbreaks of some kind loss of a loved one divorce illness loss of a job or home and seek to understand why these losses and traumas have befallen them and how they ll make it through in one piece For readers who have endured loss of any kind Kristine takes them by the hand showing them how to traverse their own jagged edge of growth and emerge as the hero whole happy and empowered Each chapter of From Heartbreak to Wholeness includes powerful exercises in self-inquiry and reflection along with step-by-step guidance for writing one s own heroic story of healing Journey with Kristine Carlson and learn how you can walk the path from heartbreak to wholenessThe Promise of Death, The Passion of Life
By Jana Baldridge Vargas. 2005
What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger: Turning Bad Breaks Into Blessings
By Maxine Schnall. 2000
Losing a Parent: Parent Practical Help for You and Other Family Members
By Fiona Marshall. 2000
Whether from a sudden accident or a slow, terminal illness, the death of a parent is devastating to adults and…
children alike. In Losing a Parent, Fiona Marshall helps readers understand the process of coping with a parent's death, from preparing for death to recognizing the different stages of grief, from nurturing the relationship with the surviving parent to harnessing new strength to carry on with life. Wise, compassionate, and practical, Losing a Parent is an invaluable source of support for a time of overwhelming loss.Your Pregnancy for the Father to Be: Everything Dads Need to Know About Pregnancy, Childbirth and Getting Ready for a New Baby
By Glade B. Curtis, Judith Schuler. 2009
Pregnancy can be a thrilling adventure for a couple. Although most attention is directed toward the mom-to-be, the nine months…
of pregnancy are an exciting, moving and, yes, occasionally stressful!time for the expectant father as well. Written with the needs and concerns of the dad-to-be in mind, this book includes a comprehensive glossary of terms, a resource section, up-to-date medical information, and tips for supporting your partner during pregnancy and the birth of your new baby. It will also help you be the best father you can be by covering such topics as: The tests and procedures your partner may undergo The impact of pregnancy on your relationship and how to handle it Ways to evaluate the expenses of having a baby How to be a great labor coachFor Bumpier Times: An Indian Mother's Guide to 101 Pregnancy & Childcare Practices
By Lakshmy Ramanathan. 2015
In India the arrival of a child is not very different from a wedding It is a family…
event that every one looks forward to with great eagerness and enthusiasm Each family member also knows of an age-old custom or belief they know to have benefited expectant mothers and newborns But how does a first-time mother balance quirky community-based rituals alongside New Age scientific norms For Bumpier Times is an attempt to capture the complexities of being pregnant in our society and to arm you with information that enables you to make empowered decisions By recording 101 practices from across the country and by having them reviewed by an eminent panel of doctors and experts the book hopes to dismiss your doubts and fears trace the origin behind these myths and beliefs and keep up with the latest in childbirth and care to help you achieve that balance crucial to welcoming your little one into your culture and world Written in an easy-to-understand Q A format Ramanathan has managed to create an elaborate guide on pregnancy and childcare specific to Indian mothersSpiritual Pregnancy: Inner Wisdom to Nourish and Nurture Your Child
By Gopika Kapoor. 2011
Let your pregnancy be the joyous exciting and spiritual journey it was always meant to be While…
having a baby is a time of great happiness it can also be the most bewildering experience for those involved Luckily this book provides the perfect antidote to all your pregnancy and baby concerns Right from deciding whether to have a baby to choosing the best hospital for the d-day deliveryday Spiritual Pregnancy shows you how to make the most of your pregnancy so that you come through those nine months not only relaxed but also confident and prepared This unique volume shows you the best ways to handle the dilemmas that accompany having a baby while preparing you for the incredible job that lies ahead becoming a parent Allow Gopika Kapoor to share with you the learning from her own journey as a mother of twins and the spiritual insights that guided her Her pragmatic and reassuring voice not only tells you how to deal with surprise pregnancies crazy hormones overbearing relatives and tired sex lives but also gives great advice on baby showers alternative birthing methods post-baby body image and how to stay energized and positive through it all Since parental bonds first form while the baby is still in the womb Spiritual Pregnancy is your guide to making the most of this very special time with your childThe Complete Guide To Baby Naming Ceremonies
By Becky Alexander. 2010
If you would like to celebrate the arrival of a new baby with friends and family, but are looking for…
an alternative to a traditional christening, this is the book for you. Civil weddings have been popular for a long time, but you can now have a Civil Naming ceremony for your child, held either at your local registry office, or at any venue of your choice. As there is no legal requirement, you can hold the party at home, in your garden, or at any venue you like. You can host the event yourselves, or ask a registered celebrant to host the event. This book contains lots of ideas to make your civil naming ceremony memorable and unique to your family. There are ideas for poems, readings, music, themes, and special ideas for how to mark the occasion. Everyone can get involved; grandparents, siblings, and specially nominated adults who can act as guardians. There are readings suitable for all. This book includes: - How to plan the naming party and ceremony - Ideas for indoors and outdoors decor, plus simple decorations - Providing entertainment and fun for children and adults - 10 special event ideas for the day, such as star naming, planting a tree and filling a time capsule - Traditional and contemporary ideas for readings and poems with new, specifically commissioned poems that are particularly relevant to this special occasion - Ideas and recipes for delicious food and drinkScience in History: Death in Beijing
By Daniel Asen. 2016
In this innovative and engaging history of homicide investigation in Republican Beijing, Daniel Asen explores the transformation of ideas about…
death in China in the first half of the twentieth century. In this period, those who died violently or under suspicious circumstances constituted a particularly important population of the dead, subject to new claims by police, legal and medical professionals, and a newspaper industry intent on covering urban fatality in sensational detail. Asen examines the process through which imperial China's old tradition of forensic science came to serve the needs of a changing state and society under these dramatically new circumstances. This is a story of the unexpected outcomes and contingencies of modernity, presenting new perspectives on China's transition from empire to modern nation state, competing visions of science and expertise, and the ways in which the meanings of death and dead bodies changed amid China's modern transformation.