Even though I originally bought this book to help me process my brother-in-law's death...I found myself thinking about my sister the entire way through. It was a rough go, emotionally, but worth it. ( )

This is a magnificent book on a subject which no one wants to speak about, let alone read. Fine has written an incredible book on suicide and its effects on the survivors. This is not a book you would read for pleasure. This is a textbook on grief, survivors’ loss, coping, or promoting the value of counseling after traumatic death. The readership would include medical professionals, grieve counselors, clergy, families of suicide victims or those studying death in popular American culture. The author’s husband (a medical doctor) had committed suicide and the book illustrates her own struggles to understand the event itself and her own reaction. Fine went on to interview other family members of suicide victims to anonymously add them to her own detailed story. The book is organized by chapter to mirror what is experienced (in linear time) with someone who is actually going through the grieving process. The book begins with the desire to speak out of the ‘silence’ that descends after the stigma of suicide is known. Then the event itself in all its monstrous effects is covered. Feelings of helplessness, financial problems and effects on families are given serious consideration. The book concludes with getting help, forgiving the loved one and oneself. There is a section on resources which is dated, as it has only telephone numbers (no web sites). From my point of view the unique aspect of Fine’s work is the sheer number of instances and the circumstances for why someone would commit suicide. It is much more common than anyone wants to admit and therein lays the difficulty. Fine has written a powerful testimony to the power of love that each person carries within them even after traumatic event of suicide has taken place. It is a tragedy that such a book would be needed but I am happy that Fine has allowed us to share the wisdom from her most painful adult experience. ( )