Sherry L. Hoppe

Faces of Grief is a book that would be a fine gift for anyone who has suffered a loss in their life. Losses of children, parents, and spouses are all covered in this paperback, and one is able to pick the loss that they have endured. I found each story told interesting to read, and read one a night to be able to understand and comprehend the emotions brought up from the reading. So many people tell others how to deal with losses, but this book tells how others did, without preaching or lectures. I was not sure this was a book I wanted to review but once I started on page one, I found it difficult to put down. I have lost a grandson at age 7, a favorite friend a month ago and my parents, along with a sibling. These losses were all covered in the book,and I was able to understand my own grieving process for my losses.

I highly recommend this book to any grieving person/family and it should be in every library, be it church, public or personal libraries. Have this book on hand so that when a loss occurs, sending this book will encourage the friend/family member that hope does exist and survival is an option.… (mais)

There are some comforting stories here. I don't know if reading stories of loss is very helpful to someone who is experiencing death and loss. I have found help in the book, "I'm a Widow, What Now? Embracing Life after Loss" by author Patricia N. Muscari. I’m a Widow, What Now? is unique; it can move you through your grief and into contentment much faster! This book talks about the ‘whole experience’, touching on all parts of life and experience. rel="nofollow" target="_top">http://www.yourfuturewithin.com… (mais)

Dr. Sherry Lee Hoppe, an academic, counselor and wife who has herself endured the loss of a spouse, is the author of this heartfelt study on grief. With forty-seven chapters, half of the book focusing on personal stories, Faces of Grief covers the myriad aspects of grief: the depression that can follow, the spiritual and transformative nature of loss, and the intimate stories that can encourage and teach us how to overcome grief itself. Hoppe attempts to console while chronicling the fates of mothers, daughters, and spouses who have dealt with the untimely death of their loved ones.

I found several of Hoppe’s chapters to be helpful for those making their way through the crippling and overwhelming nature of grief. For instance, at the outset of Chapter 3, “Finding Your Way Through the Blizzard of Grief,” she writes, “If we hold onto the aura of our loved one—if we know in the depth of our soul our spirits remain connected and will someday be reunited, we can survive the fierceness of the storm.” Hoppe also devotes several chapters to depression and suggests helping others to keep it at bay. She writes, “As challenging as it may be to force ourselves out of self-imposed exile, one of the best ways to discover how much we have to be grateful for is to help others. In our desolation, we may discover others who have lost more, who have suffered more greatly, whose agony is more acute.”

Other notable chapters include Chapter 8, “Why is Life So Unfair?,” Chapter 9, “I Prayed for a Miracle but the Answer was ‘No,’” and Chapter 14, “Resilience When Losses Come in Legions.” While moving through her narrative, Hoppe turns to famous writers and thinkers including grief expert Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.

Hoppe gives serious effort to tackling a very challenging topic. She garners advice, inspiration and wisdom from so many disparate sources. However, all her efforts and passion can’t save the book from its ultimate weakness: its disorganization and need for better editing. There are too many chapters (forty seven as stated before), subheadings, and references to other writes and personal stories, resulting in little continuity. As a reader, I’m unable to hear the author’s voice, her ultimate message, and believe the book longs for an original stance. All together, it’s a hodgepodge of ideas, advice, stories and insights, but not enough to unify as an authoritative book.… (mais)