A Grief Observed

This book is raw yet insightful. Some may not be able to past the scattered nature of it, but those experiencing grief it is very real and relatable.

C.S. Lewis feels, in a lot of ways, like my literary brother. This book is an anthem of grief, showing what it means to be human. It feels as if I’m reading the story of an ant fighting a thunderstorm. That’s what’s so beautiful to me here, that he’s so aware of the size of the world and his irrelevance. In part, I think this book comes to terms with that, to cope with being so easily knocked down by the wind. There were times when I read this book and chuckled, other times that tears began to form. Other time, I didn’t know how to feel, just as we all do in grief. The biggest thing, in my opinion, is his honesty. He shows that grief is but the farewell of a departing train that will never return. At first, you feel overwhelmed, then you begin to ponder about the future and then you watch the train in the distance and reflect. Not so linear, but two steps forward and one step back kind of thing. Finally, what this book has that makes it so beautiful is the bittersweet. When reading, I felt like I was walking in the rain but the sun was still out. It played a note very few works do, coming to terms with the rain whilst everyone else is in the sun. This book is among the best I know, and I highly suggest it for any reader.