As a suicide survivor who, like many before me, found myself wandering in the wilderness of grief, sorrow, and anger this book was both a salve and a pincushion. It is difficult to face the reality of survival, but it is necessary. Ms. Collins' insights and revelations about the suicide of her son, as well as her "survival techniques", were something that I needed to hear. There is sage advice in this book. For the survivor there is pain, also. It is necessary pain. This is both a recommendation and a deep thank you to Ms. Collins. On a lighter note: the book also adds some insight into the early modern-folk years of America along with the people and places involved. ( )