A powerful exploration of grief and resilience following the death of
the author's son that combines memoir, reportage, and lessons in how to
heal
Everyone deals with grief in their own way. Helen Macdonald found solace
in training a wild goshawk. Cheryl Strayed found strength in hiking the
Pacific Crest Trail. For Carol Smith, a Pulitzer Prize nominated
journalist struggling with the sudden death of her seven-year-old son,
Christopher, the way to cross the river of sorrow was through work.
In Crossing the River, Smith recounts how she faced down her crippling
loss through reporting a series of profiles of people coping with their
own intense challenges, whether a life-altering accident, injury, or
diagnosis. These were stories of survival and transformation, of people
facing devastating situations that changed them in unexpected ways.
Smith deftly mixes the stories of these individuals and their families
with her own account of how they helped her heal. General John
Shalikashvili, once the most powerful member of the American military,
taught Carol how to face fear with discipline and endurance. Seth, a
young boy with a rare and incurable illness, shed light on the totality
of her son's experiences, and in turn helps readers see that the value
of a life is not measured in days.
Crossing the River is a beautiful and profoundly moving book, an
unforgettable journey through grief toward hope, and a valuable,
illuminating read for anyone coping with loss.
