cover image Wish You Were Here: Travels Through Loss and Hope

Wish You Were Here: Travels Through Loss and Hope

Amy Welborn. Image, $14 trade paper (256p) ISBN 978-0-307-71638-5

The death of a spouse is never easy; Joan Didion’s precise and vulnerable reflection on it has prompted a growing chorus from other writers. When that spouse is in the prime of life, the devastation is even more profound. Welborn, popular author and Catholic commentator, pours out her struggles, doubts, and pain after losing her husband, Michael, to a heart attack. This tragedy left her, in midlife, as a single mother of two young children. The author is known for her writing about the Catholic faith, which is typically clear and direct. This is probably her most vulnerable work to date, and she does not hesitate to express the deep sadness that prompted faith questions. She decides to travel with her children to Sicily five months after Michael’s death while still wrapped in the hazy fog of grief. The journey helps her reflect deeply on her joyous and painful memories, thus opening up the possibility of some healing. This story is very personal, but it will satisfy anyone looking to work through his or her own grief and loss. Particularly moving is Welborn’s account of going through her husband’s belongings to decide what to keep as “strong relics” and what to give away. This is a demanding task, but the author injects a hint of spirituality into this exercise that seems to indicate a small step forward in hope. (Feb.)