Review of Butterfly Awakens
Posted: 30 Jan 2023, 06:38
[Following is a volunteer review of "Butterfly Awakens" by Meg Nocero.]
Have you ever felt frozen, incapacitated in your life because of grief, whether over loss, anguish, or shame? Have you found yourself battling the physical manifestations of traumatic events you've endured? Have you wondered whether you'll ever be able to emerge from a pit of depression so great you can't see the light above? If you can relate to these feelings, and I think many of us can, you'll want to read Meg Nocero's Butterfly Awakens: A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief. In her memoir, Meg takes us through the staggering loss of her mother to breast cancer, and Meg's subsequent journey from the depths of despair to finally understanding her worth, value, unique abilities, and life's path forward.
Meg's story unfolds for us the way a close friend might reveal her struggles and thought processes. We read about Meg's solid relationship with her mother, her devotion to family, her search for meaningful work, and her desire to make a difference in the world as if we were sitting with her at a local cafe having coffee and pastries. Meg's ability to bring us into her life and really allow us to feel her emotions is compelling. The reader travels with her as she relates stories of childhood bullies, warm family gatherings, glass ceilings in the workplace, angels in the hospital with her mother, heartbreaking conversations with friends, and her ultimate journey to El Camino de Santiago de Compostela seeking a butterfly-like transformation for herself. In the end, Meg's path is our own, the universal search for love and meaning in our lives, even in the face of great loss.
If anything negative can be said about this book, it's that Meg is so excruciatingly hard on herself. In truth, this isn't a negative, as her self-deprecation throughout the story only serves to allow the reader to relate even more fully to her despair. We effectively cry with her, or rage at the unfairness, or scream at those who turn her away and tell her to figure things out already! In any case, there will be moments when the reader will likely be quite ready for Meg's life to take a solid, significant turn for the better.
My rating for Butterfly Awakens is 5 out of 5 stars. Meg's story of transformation to the life she wants to lead even after facing the death of her beloved mother is alternately sad and hopeful, infuriating and justified, immobilizing and powerful. This type of read is so validating as we navigate our own lives, and the resolution of the story is intensely satisfying. We can all hope for the same kind of "happy ending!"
Although there are references to body parts due to the nature of her mother's illness, as well as adult life issues, and grawlixes (strings of typographical symbols) to make some swear words more innocuous, this book is suitable for an audience of people looking to move through grief, uplift their spirits and take charge of their future. Enjoy!
******
Butterfly Awakens
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Have you ever felt frozen, incapacitated in your life because of grief, whether over loss, anguish, or shame? Have you found yourself battling the physical manifestations of traumatic events you've endured? Have you wondered whether you'll ever be able to emerge from a pit of depression so great you can't see the light above? If you can relate to these feelings, and I think many of us can, you'll want to read Meg Nocero's Butterfly Awakens: A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief. In her memoir, Meg takes us through the staggering loss of her mother to breast cancer, and Meg's subsequent journey from the depths of despair to finally understanding her worth, value, unique abilities, and life's path forward.
Meg's story unfolds for us the way a close friend might reveal her struggles and thought processes. We read about Meg's solid relationship with her mother, her devotion to family, her search for meaningful work, and her desire to make a difference in the world as if we were sitting with her at a local cafe having coffee and pastries. Meg's ability to bring us into her life and really allow us to feel her emotions is compelling. The reader travels with her as she relates stories of childhood bullies, warm family gatherings, glass ceilings in the workplace, angels in the hospital with her mother, heartbreaking conversations with friends, and her ultimate journey to El Camino de Santiago de Compostela seeking a butterfly-like transformation for herself. In the end, Meg's path is our own, the universal search for love and meaning in our lives, even in the face of great loss.
If anything negative can be said about this book, it's that Meg is so excruciatingly hard on herself. In truth, this isn't a negative, as her self-deprecation throughout the story only serves to allow the reader to relate even more fully to her despair. We effectively cry with her, or rage at the unfairness, or scream at those who turn her away and tell her to figure things out already! In any case, there will be moments when the reader will likely be quite ready for Meg's life to take a solid, significant turn for the better.
My rating for Butterfly Awakens is 5 out of 5 stars. Meg's story of transformation to the life she wants to lead even after facing the death of her beloved mother is alternately sad and hopeful, infuriating and justified, immobilizing and powerful. This type of read is so validating as we navigate our own lives, and the resolution of the story is intensely satisfying. We can all hope for the same kind of "happy ending!"
Although there are references to body parts due to the nature of her mother's illness, as well as adult life issues, and grawlixes (strings of typographical symbols) to make some swear words more innocuous, this book is suitable for an audience of people looking to move through grief, uplift their spirits and take charge of their future. Enjoy!
******
Butterfly Awakens
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon