Scan barcode
sienna_canread's review against another edition
Kinda boring and like kinda a weird format too
britlovestoread's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Okay well this book destroyed me 😭
ipaintitred's review against another edition
5.0
I have followed Yalom as a fellow therapist, once student, for a long while now as I admire him and his work so much. Expect to shed some tears in this one.
Such a beautiful telling of sixty-five years of a joyful, caring marriage and such rewarding, full lives. This is certainly a story of love and grief as I truly believe they are one in the same. It was interesting to read Yalom’s own experience and personal feelings surrounding death and grief considering his existential work. This memoir is intimate and vivid, and also is a wondrous celebration of two lives—their journey through the pages takes us to the familiar warmth of nostalgia and beginnings, right through to a beautiful examination of the consolation of a life well-lived. Certainly a story we can all identify with in one way or another.
Such a beautiful telling of sixty-five years of a joyful, caring marriage and such rewarding, full lives. This is certainly a story of love and grief as I truly believe they are one in the same. It was interesting to read Yalom’s own experience and personal feelings surrounding death and grief considering his existential work. This memoir is intimate and vivid, and also is a wondrous celebration of two lives—their journey through the pages takes us to the familiar warmth of nostalgia and beginnings, right through to a beautiful examination of the consolation of a life well-lived. Certainly a story we can all identify with in one way or another.
thepetitepunk's review against another edition
I have never been afraid of dying. I've never really be interested in questions about what it feels like to die, or what we'll see in our last moments, or where we go after death, if anywhere. I won't care what happens when I die. I will be dead.
But the fear of other people dying? That's a different story. That, I am realizing as I type this, is my deepest fear. So often I've found myself in hypothetical spirals, thinking about the process of grief. I have had people in my life die, yet I can't stop thinking about the living. What will it be like to lose them? My parents, my siblings, long lost friends from childhood, friends I've recently made, my grade school teachers that are getting older, the librarians I've been seeing since I was a kid, that one cashier from Target, my ex-boyfriend I haven't spoken to in years, my next door neighbors, my dog. Anyone. I find myself thinking awful thoughts in joyous moments with people who are very much alive, like, "I will miss this moment when this person is no longer here."
I dwell on the moments associated with other people's deaths and wonder what worse moments will be waiting for me in the future. I think so often about my grandma, who shared a name with one of the authors of this book, who died the day I turned 16. Staring down at the signature my grandpa forged on a hospital gift shop birthday card while my mom broke the news to me is probably one of the most vivid memories in my brain. Or the time my grandpa, not fully coherent, spontaneously cried in the middle of a mall over all family members who hated him, while I sipped on bubble tea, horrified. These moments have only hurt more as time has passed and I watch the people in my life get older. They will have their moments eventually.
As a result, this was not an easy book to stomach. It was painful to the core, and took me over a month and a half to finish despite it being a relatively short book. I could only finish the tiniest portions before having to stop and reflect.
But although this book is about death and dying, it is ultimately a love letter. It is about loyalty, passion, companionship. Simmering with empathy, intelligence, and humanity, A Matter of Death and Life hits every mark and strikes every nerve.
✧ ✧ ✧
≪reading 31 books for 31 days of january≫
╰┈➤ 1. all that's left in the world by erik j. brown
╰┈➤ 2. the female of the species by mindy mcginnis
╰┈➤ 3. the battle of the labyrinth by rick riordan
╰┈➤ 4. exit west by mohsin hamid
╰┈➤ 5. don't call us dead by danez smith
╰┈➤ 6. warm bodies by isaac marion
╰┈➤ 7. the other side of perfect by mariko turk
╰┈➤ 8. the last olympian by rick riordan
╰┈➤ 9. counting down with you by tashie bhuiyan
╰┈➤ 10. a matter of death and life by irvin d. yalom and marilyn yalom
But the fear of other people dying? That's a different story. That, I am realizing as I type this, is my deepest fear. So often I've found myself in hypothetical spirals, thinking about the process of grief. I have had people in my life die, yet I can't stop thinking about the living. What will it be like to lose them? My parents, my siblings, long lost friends from childhood, friends I've recently made, my grade school teachers that are getting older, the librarians I've been seeing since I was a kid, that one cashier from Target, my ex-boyfriend I haven't spoken to in years, my next door neighbors, my dog. Anyone. I find myself thinking awful thoughts in joyous moments with people who are very much alive, like, "I will miss this moment when this person is no longer here."
I dwell on the moments associated with other people's deaths and wonder what worse moments will be waiting for me in the future. I think so often about my grandma, who shared a name with one of the authors of this book, who died the day I turned 16. Staring down at the signature my grandpa forged on a hospital gift shop birthday card while my mom broke the news to me is probably one of the most vivid memories in my brain. Or the time my grandpa, not fully coherent, spontaneously cried in the middle of a mall over all family members who hated him, while I sipped on bubble tea, horrified. These moments have only hurt more as time has passed and I watch the people in my life get older. They will have their moments eventually.
As a result, this was not an easy book to stomach. It was painful to the core, and took me over a month and a half to finish despite it being a relatively short book. I could only finish the tiniest portions before having to stop and reflect.
But although this book is about death and dying, it is ultimately a love letter. It is about loyalty, passion, companionship. Simmering with empathy, intelligence, and humanity, A Matter of Death and Life hits every mark and strikes every nerve.
✧ ✧ ✧
≪reading 31 books for 31 days of january≫
╰┈➤ 1. all that's left in the world by erik j. brown
╰┈➤ 2. the female of the species by mindy mcginnis
╰┈➤ 3. the battle of the labyrinth by rick riordan
╰┈➤ 4. exit west by mohsin hamid
╰┈➤ 5. don't call us dead by danez smith
╰┈➤ 6. warm bodies by isaac marion
╰┈➤ 7. the other side of perfect by mariko turk
╰┈➤ 8. the last olympian by rick riordan
╰┈➤ 9. counting down with you by tashie bhuiyan
╰┈➤ 10. a matter of death and life by irvin d. yalom and marilyn yalom
lotte_172's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
paigecanread's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
A must read for learning about life!
emjaywise's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5