Official Review: "Til Death Do Us Part

[Sonya Nicolaidis]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of ""Til Death Do Us Part" by Kerry S McKendall.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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After forty-nine years of marriage, it seemed that life for Kerry McKendall and her husband, Greg was nothing short of idyllic. They had weathered the usual ups and downs of any normal marriage and had five children and no less than twelve grandchildren together. Their business was successful, and they were looking forward to celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a very special holiday for just the two of them. It seemed as though a new phase of their lives was just beginning.

However, as the saying goes, “Men plan and God laughs.” Never was this truer than for this author, as in early 2016 her husband was diagnosed as having stage IV cancer. By all accounts, his condition was inoperable and most likely terminal. In a state of shock, both Kerry and Greg vowed to fight against the grim prognosis and beat the odds. Sadly, less than seven months later, Greg was dead.

‘Till Death Do Us Part by Kerry McKendall is the heart-wrenching story of the author’s journey following the death of her husband. She takes the reader through the various stages of grief spanning several years, during which she struggled to come to terms with being suddenly alone. Yet, there is so much more to this story than just overcoming loneliness and moving on. The emphasis is on taking the time, feeling the emotions and remembering everything. This a chronicle of one woman’s grief, profound and gut-wrenching, and how she managed to survive and go on to lead a pleasurable and fulfilling life again.

I always find myself struggling with the awkwardness of what to say and do to help someone who is recently bereaved. Words fail, any actions seem so small and meaningless, and the feeling of helplessness surpasses everything. This book reached out to me, primarily because I thought it might be helpful to me personally sometime in the future. At the same time, I was drawn to it because it provides some insight as to what a newly bereaved person might be feeling. It also shows how best to help them at different stages along the path to acceptance and recovery.

There are a few steps in the healing process outlined by this author which surprised me somewhat, yet upon reflection, they make sense. One suggestion is to write a letter to your lost loved one, opening your heart and letting them know how you feel. She recommends writing as the perfect therapy, as it channels the grief and also provides clarity of thinking during the days when emotions are running high. As she counsels, “Write your thoughts down; they will become great company.” Interestingly, mention is also made of procrastination and how this is a normal symptom of grief. She also makes valuable recommendations as to how friends and family can console and assist those who are grieving in meaningful and loving ways.

This author found her own “unique purpose” in helping others, which came to light very soon after she lost her husband. I loved the way the book metamorphosed from a desperately sad account of loss and heartbreak to a message of love, hope, and encouragement. This strong lesson is the main reason why I enjoyed this book so much. Far from being morbid, it highlights the wonderful and rewarding life that is waiting beyond the fog of grief, uncertainty, and despair.

Apart from being very well-written, the editing was excellent and I saw only a couple of minor typographical errors in the book. It is essentially a short read but wields a powerful message and I feel it deserves a permanent place on my bookshelves as a reference book. This would be an invaluable read for anyone who has lost someone close to them or knows someone who is struggling with being suddenly alone after bereavement. The story is poignantly sad at times, so those who are adversely affected by emotional narratives may be overwhelmed. For those who prefer to read purely for relaxation and pleasure, I advise against attempting this book.

Even though this is classified under the genre of Religion and Spirituality, there are only snippets of these mentioned throughout. Rather, I found it to be a practical book that gives insightful guidance and suggestions, and I can pinpoint no shortcomings about its content or its presentation. I would unhesitatingly award this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. My congratulations go out to this author for having the courage, sensitivity, and love of her fellow man to write this book.

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"Til Death Do Us Part
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Like sonya01's review? Post a comment saying so!

[kandscreeley]

For anyone who has a happy marriage, this is one of your worst nightmares. At this point, I can't imagine life without my husband. Though I know I would make it somehow, I'm not sure how at this point. I think this would be a bit too emotional and hit too close to home for me at the moment. Thanks for the review, though.

[chiefsimplex]

I always find myself struggling with the awkwardness of what to say and do to help someone who is recently bereaved. Words fail, any actions seem so small and meaningless, and the feeling of helplessness surpasses everything.

Absolutely.This read sounds helpful. Really, sometimes even when you try to console a friend who is going through such a terrible experience ,your words sound like mockery to yourself.Thanks for a wonderful review.

[Prisallen]

I'm glad that the author was able to find a purpose in helping others, which helped her deal with her loss. Sadness in books tends to get me down, so I think I will skip this book. Thanks for your review!

[Sonya Nicolaidis]

For anyone who has a happy marriage, this is one of your worst nightmares. At this point, I can't imagine life without my husband. Though I know I would make it somehow, I'm not sure how at this point. I think this would be a bit too emotional and hit too close to home for me at the moment. Thanks for the review, though.

I know what you mean. A lot of the feelings came very close to the bone and made me do a lot of thinking about what I would do in a similar position. Thanks for your comment.

[Sonya Nicolaidis]

I'm glad that the author was able to find a purpose in helping others, which helped her deal with her loss. Sadness in books tends to get me down, so I think I will skip this book. Thanks for your review!

Thanks for reading; I appreciate your comments.

[Sonya Nicolaidis]

I always find myself struggling with the awkwardness of what to say and do to help someone who is recently bereaved. Words fail, any actions seem so small and meaningless, and the feeling of helplessness surpasses everything.

Absolutely.This read sounds helpful. Really, sometimes even when you try to console a friend who is going through such a terrible experience ,your words sound like mockery to yourself.Thanks for a wonderful review.

Exactly! Thanks for reading and for sharing your thoughts.

[Radiant3]

A moving story that will definitely elicit an emotional response from its readers. A helpful book for anyone going through a similar experience. Thank you for the great review.

[sarahmarlowe randomeducator]

This sounds like a thought-provoking read. How awesome it is that the author allowed us into her very private pain. I'm sure it would be able to help bring healing to bereaved spouses. Thanks for the excellent review!

[Agnes Masobeng]

This sounds like a good read though very emotional and a bit painful. I can't help but wonder how it'd be like living without one's better half.

[Nisha Ward]

I'm one who struggles with grief and emotional management on the whole. Reading this, it sounds like the author has some advice that I might find useful, even as it's painful and emotional. I hope to find something in this book to help and internalise.

[Mbrooks2518]

This sounds too heavy emotionally for me to read. Great review, though!