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Meet New Books

Books Like...

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion is a deeply personal memoir chronicling the author's experience with grief and mourning after the sudden death of her husband and the critical illness of her daughter. Didion's writing style is described as raw, honest, and poignant, capturing the profoundness of a lengthy marriage and the crippling grief of its unexpected end. The book delves into the stages of grief, offering insights and detailed analysis of the author's reactions, thoughts, and feelings as she navigates through loss and tries to come to terms with this life-altering event.

At times, the book reads like a shipwreck, mirroring Didion's state of mind during this period when she grapples with the possibility of her husband's return. The writing is elegant yet down to earth, with a sharply honed talent for language and a strict honesty that makes this memoir a treasure. Didion's ability to convey emotions surrounding loss and love is highlighted, as she weaves together memories, personal reflections, and literary allusions to create a contemplative collection of prose that delves into the depths of human experience.

If you liked The Year of Magical Thinking, here are the top 100 books to read next:

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Showing 1 - 10 of 100 
  1. #1

    A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
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    'A Grief Observed' by C.S. Lewis is a poignant and honest exploration of the author's personal journey through grief following the death of his beloved wife. Through a series of raw and heartfelt reflections, Lewis delves into the depths of his emotions, doubts, and struggles with faith in the face of loss. The book offers a candid portrayal of how grief can challenge even the strongest beliefs and how one can navigate through the overwhelming pain of loss.

    The writing style of 'A Grief Observed' is described as intimate, emotional, and deeply personal. It provides readers with a glimpse into Lewis' innermost thoughts and feelings as he grapples with the profound impact of his wife's passing. The book is noted for its unflinching honesty, poignant observations, and the way it captures the complexities of grief with both clarity and vulnerability.

    At other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between the world and me. I find it hard to take in what anyone says. Or perhaps, hard to want to ta...

  2. #2

    When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
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    In "When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi, readers are taken on a poignant journey through the author's experiences as a neurosurgeon facing a terminal cancer diagnosis. The book beautifully captures Kalanithi's reflections on life, death, and the pursuit of meaning amidst his battle with illness. Through eloquent writing and a blend of medical insights, personal anecdotes, and literary references, Kalanithi shares his profound thoughts on mortality, resilience, and the importance of living purposefully even in the face of imminent death.

    PAUL DIED ON MONDAY, March 9, 2015, surrounded by his family, in a hospital bed roughly two hundred yards from the labor and delivery ward where our daughter, Cady, had entered the world eight months ...

  3. #3

    H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
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    H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald is a memoir that intertwines the author's journey through grief after the loss of her father with her experience of training a goshawk named Mabel. The book also delves into the life of author T.H. White and his struggles with training a goshawk, providing a parallel narrative to Macdonald's own story. Through eloquent prose and vivid descriptions, Macdonald navigates the complexities of falconry, personal loss, and self-discovery, creating a compelling narrative that blends elements of memoir, biography, and nature writing.

    FORTY-FIVE MINUTES north-east of Cambridge is a landscape I’ve come to love very much indeed. It’s where wet fen gives way to parched sand. It’s a land of twisted pine trees, burned-out cars, shotgun-...

  4. #4

    Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
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    'Crying in H Mart' by Michelle Zauner is a poignant memoir that delves into the author's journey through grief and self-discovery following her mother's battle with cancer. Through heartfelt storytelling and rich descriptions of food and Korean heritage, Zauner navigates the complexities of familial relationships, cultural identity, and the profound impact of loss. The book beautifully captures the author's emotional turmoil, personal growth, and the enduring bond between a mother and daughter, making it a compelling and moving read for those seeking a deeper understanding of love, grief, and the power of memory.

    H Mart is a supermarket chain that specializes in Asian food. The H stands for han ah reum, a Korean phrase that roughly translates to “one arm full of groceries.” H Mart is where parachute kids flock...

  5. #5

    Blue Nights by Joan Didion
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    'Blue Nights' by Joan Didion is a beautifully written, sad, and poignant memoir that delves into the grieving period of the author after the death of her daughter, Quintana, closely followed by the loss of her husband. The book explores Didion's thoughts on aging, loneliness, vulnerability, and the struggles of growing old without immediate family. The writing style is described as melodic, reflective, and emotionally powerful, capturing the depth of a mother's love, the pain of loss, and the inevitability of aging with exquisite quality.

    n certain latitudes there comes a span of time approaching and following the summer solstice, some weeks in all, when the twilights turn long and blue. This period of the blue nights does not occur in...

  6. 'It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand' by Megan Devine is a heartfelt exploration of grief and loss through the lens of the author's personal experience and professional expertise. Devine, a therapist who tragically lost her partner, eloquently articulates the complex emotions of grief in a relatable and accessible manner. offers a blend of personal stories, practical advice, and writing prompts, making it a valuable resource for those navigating the turbulent waters of grief.

    Readers commend the book for its realistic and practical approach to grief, providing insights on the individual nature of grieving and emphasizing the importance of self-care and understanding. Devine's writing style is described as human, graceful, and devoid of the typical cliches often found in self-help books, offering a comforting and validating space for readers to explore their own grief journeys.

    Time has stopped. Nothing feels real. Your mind cannot stop replaying the events, hoping for a different outcome. The ordinary, everyday world that others still inhabit feels coarse and cruel. You can...

  7. #7

    A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
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    'A Monster Calls' by Patrick Ness is a heart-wrenching story about a 13-year-old boy named Conor who is struggling to cope with his mother's terminal cancer. Throughout the book, Conor is visited by a monster who guides him through dealing with his mother's illness and helps him confront his deepest fears and emotions. The story explores themes of grief, loss, and acceptance in a poignant and honest manner. The writing style is described as beautifully written, quick-paced, and emotionally impactful, with illustrations that complement the narrative perfectly.

    He’d had a nightmare. Well, not a nightmare. The nightmare. The one he’d been having a lot lately. The one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming. The one with the hands slipping from his gr...

  8. #8

    Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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    Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 'Notes on Grief' is a poignant reflection on the author's personal experience of losing her father during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through raw and honest storytelling, Adichie shares her journey through grief, memories of her father, and the challenges of mourning in a time of restrictions and uncertainties. The book beautifully captures the complexities of grief, the cultural aspects of mourning in Nigeria, and the emotional turmoil of losing a loved one unexpectedly.


  9. #9

    Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
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    Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom is a heartwarming memoir that follows the touching relationship between a student and his professor, Morrie Schwartz, as Morrie faces his battle with ALS. The book delves into deep conversations held between the two characters every Tuesday, exploring life lessons, love, and the importance of relationships. Albom's writing style is described as emotional, insightful, and thought-provoking, capturing the essence of Morrie's wisdom and philosophy towards life and death.

    He had always been a dancer, my old professor. The music didn’t matter. Rock and roll, big band, the blues. He loved them all. He would close his eyes and with a blissful smile begin to move to his ow...

  10. #10

    Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter
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    Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter is a poetic and inventive novella that explores the themes of death, loss, and grief through the perspectives of a father, his two young sons, and a crow. The book switches between voices, offering a unique blend of poetry, near poetry, and irregular fiction to portray the journey of a family coping with the sudden loss of their wife and mother. Through the presence of Crow, who acts as both a tormentor and a healer, the family navigates the complexities of grief, finding moments of raw emotion, dark humor, and profound love.

    Four or five days after she died, I sat alone in the living room wondering what to do. Shuffling around, waiting for shock to give way, waiting for any kind of structured feeling to emerge from the or...

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