Welcome to Litsy!

Given the title - the Madness of Grief - I was expecting this to be quite a deep look at the effects of grief, but it‘s mostly a memoir, deceiving what Coles did in the immediate aftermath of his partner‘s death, with the occasional reference to how certain events triggered a grief response. It‘s interesting, but not what I was expecting. I certainly didn‘t expect a former Communard to spend Christmas with Lord and Lady Spencer.

I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in if you want!

#ABookADay2023

But where better to be overwhelmed than in church?

I have often come across people who have walked into one, found a seat at the back and allowed themselves to be overwhelmed. Once, in Knightsbridge, when I was locking up I came across a young woman sitting at the back who was crying bitterly. I sat next to her in silence, handing her tissues from time to time, until she was done, when she got up and left without a word

It is hard to think of anything more English than standing in Waitrose in Eastbourne, the object of distanced sympathy, by people buying forced rhubarb and salsify.

I lost my dear dad a week ago. I can‘t recall if I pre-ordered this in anticipation of the event or if I did so off the back of a well-timed review. Maybe a bit of both. It‘s really helping me, and I plan on shipping it to my mother when I finish.