Compassion, Spring 2021

Spring 2021 - Compassion | www.tcf.org.uk 17 even with him. If you are a health care professional reading this book, and you’re not a bereaved parent, you might struggle with the ‘stream of consciousness’ format of the first two chapters but stick with it and you’ll be well rewarded. Maybe start at chapter three and then go back to the first two chapters later. I guarantee you’ll want to and I’d be very surprised if you don’t find yourself resolving to change, or at least improve, some of your practice. There are also a lot of useful references to further reading and a bibliography in the back. Finally I’m also the TCF librarian (I have a cupboard full of hats) so, as I read, I was constantly assessing how this book will help my readers. It’s a very good addition to the library, in my opinion, and is well worth reading. I think it will be particularly helpful for those of us who are a little bit further into our grief, maybe six months or so, when the first shock is wearing off slightly, and for people wanting to explore PTSD, complicated grief and/or the theory of continuing bonds. It will also have a unique place as one of the extremely rare books written by a mother after the death of one of her twins. We have books written by bereaved twins themselves but the only other parent in Nina’s position I can think of, is Countess Mountbatten who wrote a chapter for ‘Our Children’. I thoroughly recommend this book and we have it in our library. Mary Hartley ‘Living in the Mourning Light’ is an amazing tribute to Andrea Corrie’s beautiful son, James, who died tragically fifteen years ago. Previously Andrea had written ‘Into the Mourning Light’ in which she gives an honest account of her first seven years as a grieving mum, just how it felt and how she coped. In this new book she describes how she has continued on that journey, up to the present. She talks about a grief tool kit and, under the titles of hope, light, vision, faith and love, she draws on her own experience and that of others to inspire the reader in a quest for meaning. As a recently bereaved mum I can really recommend this book. It gave me hope which, in Andrea’s words, was “the first signpost to place itself in the chartless desert of grief”. Hilary Dickinson Andrea gave us a very moving and interesting talk which can be accessed through the TCF website and our YouTube Channel at tinyurl.com/r9k5up84. Both of her books are in the library. Living in the Mourning Light by Andrea Corrie ANDREA CORRIE LI VING IN THE MOURNING LI GHT ANDREA CORRIE LIVING IN THE MOURNING LIGHT What is it like, Living in the Mourning Light? AndreaCorrie describes her gradual emergence from grief, following the loss of her beloved 19-year-old son James to accidentaldrowning, in theRiverThames in 2005. Aspects of hope, love, light, faith, resilience and joy are explored asAndrea relates them to the grievingprocess. Andrea’s firstbook, Into theMourningLight focusedon the first eight years after loss; Living in theMourningLight brings us to thepresent. “It takes a special person to talk publicly about bereavement, especially thatof a child, someonewho can selflessly grapple with their own feelings and emotions to help others. Resilient, determined and inspiring are allwords I associatewithAndrea; she is someone I have a huge amount of respect and admiration for,bothprofessionally, and as a friend.” RossMacleod, Manager,RNLI “AndreaCorrie’s journeyof grief has ledher to askbig questions and traipsemany paths in searchof answers.Her searchhas already yielded some surprising discoveries. I foronewill bewatchingwhere she heads next, andwhat I can learn from her thoughtful, caring soul.” SheridanVoysey, author of ‘TheMaking of Us: WhoWeCan becomeWhenLifeDoesn’tGo asPlanned’, ‘ResurrectionYear’, and ‘Resilient’ “Andreahaswritten a trulyhonest,wise and inspiringbookoffering anyone living with losshope for thepossibilityof ameaningful life, after the deathof a childor lovedone.The explorationof keys to ‘recovery’ and investing in life againwillbe hugelyhelpful forbereavedparents, their families and anyone supporting them." CarolynBrice , Chief Executive , TheCompassionateFriends “IwishAndreaCorriewellwith thisbook as she drawsonherown experienceof profound grief tohelpotherswho are going throughbereavement.” RevdNickyGumbel, Vicar of HTBBromptonRoad,London andPioneer of Alpha