Whether you’ve lost someone dear to you or have someone close to you dying, death is always a difficult season to undergo.
Grief is one of the most intense emotions to feel, and everyone experiences it differently. The good news is that books can be your friend during these challenging times.
Quite a few writers have attempted to offer comfort in the midst of darkness, either through their own experiences, or through a well-crafted narrative that lets us know we’re not alone in how we’re feeling.
11 Books About Death to Help You Through Loss
Here are some books that talk about death and grief in a way that can help you through your difficult time:
1. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
The author shares a poignant memoir about his memories with Morrie Schwartz, his college professor who was his most trusted confidant during college.
Although he hasn’t seen him in years, when he learns that Morrie is dying, they rekindle their old relationship, and Mitch rediscovers the wisdom of his old mentor and also what life truly means.
2. The Friend by Sigrid Nunez
What do you do when your lifelong best friend dies and leaves you a Great Dane? In this novel, the narrator receives custody of her late best friend’s dog.
Then, in the midst of her grief, she gets an eviction notice that nearly pushes her off the edge. But then something mysterious happens: she starts to form an unbreakable bond with this strange dog through their shared grief.
3. Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
In this book, L.M. Montgomery reflects on the difficulties of war, with the story set in the heat of World War I.
The story is seen through the eyes of Rilla, Anne Shirley Blythe’s youngest daughter, who later has to say goodbye to the older brother she loves the most.
4. Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala
After the tsunami hit in 2004, the author loses not just her husband, but also her children and her parents.
Her survival is nothing short of a miracle, but how do you go on after losing all your loved ones in one fell swoop? This memoir gives us a very transparent glimpse into the grieving process and how this woman fights to keep living.
5. On Grief and Grieving by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler
This non-fiction book may help you deal with the grieving process. Check out some of its practical advice, case studies, and stories from the authors’ own experiences and learn to live in the aftermath of a devastating loss.
6. It’s OK That You’re Not OK by Megan Devine
When a heart-wrenching loss happens in your life, you don’t have to pretend you’re OK, because grief is a perfectly normal and necessary process.
This is the main message that this book hopes to send out, describing grief as love “in its most wild and painful form,” and giving you permission not to rush the process.
7. I Love You, Little Mister by Cameron Walcott
What do you do when someone closest to you suddenly dies, with no warning at all? This is what author Cameron Walcott and his family experienced that fateful day in October when their oldest son, 13-year-old Caleb, passed away in his sleep.
He paints a very detailed picture of his family’s struggle to find hope again after this ultimate tragedy.
8. Choosing to See: A Journey of Struggle and Hope by Mary Beth Chapman
The wife of Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman, Mary Beth shares stories about her courtship and marriage to Steven, and she poignantly shares her struggle in losing her daughter.
Read about her struggle for healing and reaching for hope in the midst of what seems to be the utmost darkness.
9. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
This classic novella published in 1937 deals with the themes of loss and grief as we follow the lives of George and Lennie, two migrant workers, over three days of their lives while they search for jobs at the peak of the Great Depression.
10. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
If you know someone grieving the loss of a beloved pet, this story that begins with Billy’s bond with his two dogs, Little Ann and Old Dan, may prove to be a comfort. What happens when the unthinkable happens to break their bond? How does Billy find hope out of his despair?
11. Where is God When It Hurts? by Philip Yancey
This inspirational classic takes an honest look at pain in all aspects—emotional, physical, and even spiritual—and offers a poignant look at what happens when we suffer.
Consider this a book to read when someone you love dies or if you’ve received a troubling diagnosis.
Reading Books About Death
We all process death and grief differently, and reading books about death can be part of our journey towards healing and hope.
If you know someone struggling with grief, death, or dying, consider giving them one of these books, and perhaps just sitting silently by them. Sometimes, the best gift you can give might be the gift of your presence.
If you’re the one undergoing a difficult time right now, we encourage you to choose one or two books from this list, and we hope it can help you through your own grieving process.
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
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- 15 Ernest Hemingway Quotes on Life, Death, and Writing
- 17 Definitive Books About War
- 12 Books About Grief to Help You Through Hard Times
Yen Cabag is the Blog Writer of TCK Publishing. She is also a homeschooling mom, family coach, and speaker for the Charlotte Mason method, an educational philosophy that places great emphasis on classic literature and the masterpieces in art and music. She has also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and learning in the midst of short attention spans.
