The month of love comes with many things. To some people, it comes with flowers and chocolates; to others, it might be loss and longing. After all, it is often said that there will always be grief for as long as love exists. For those going through it—whatever it might be—we’ve listed down a few book recommendations that we think can make you feel a little less lonely this time around.
Shoko’s Smile: Stories by Choi Eun-young
Shoko’s Smile: Stories is a poignant collection of short, fictional narratives written by Choi Eun-young. Choi’s debut book looks into grief as told through the female experience, portraying the unspoken hurt that South Korean women carry in their everyday lives. Most stories are set amid the country’s historic political events, like the Inhyeokdang Incident in 1975 and the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014. The consequences of these events are illustrated through the relationships formed between women who understand each other but whose bonds also fall apart over time. Candid and humane, the author explores the quiet uncertainty that arises when faced with conditions out of one’s control.
10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak
Her story begins with the end: Tequila Leila is dead. Her friends are looking for her, but they do not know that she has been left in a trash bin after a brutal murder, and that her mind continues to operate 10 minutes and 38 seconds after she expired. With every passing minute, Leila cycles through her memories. Each one is prompted by a specific sensory experience, like the taste of lemon and sugar from her childhood and the bitterness of cardamom coffee from the brothels. The vignettes also reveal the individual lives of Leila’s five friends and how their shared experiences brought them together. As a group of social outcasts, they served as each other’s safety nets in the merciless city of Istanbul. Elif Shafak compassionately writes a tale about the enduring love of friendship, one that transcends lifetimes and even death.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
People will remind you to never trust first impressions—which is a difficult undertaking, especially if you’re faced with a rude and grumpy old man. Ove is exactly this, and more; his community calls him old-fashioned, strict, and bitter. His misanthropy has driven neighbors away for years, until a new family next door takes it upon themselves to know the 59-year-old man better. What then follows is a story depicting the power of love, the intense grief experienced at its loss, and empathy in lieu of indifference. Somber yet pleasantly optimistic, the novel is a look into old age and loneliness, unexpected friendships, and rediscovering life’s purpose.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
Something we don’t often hear is that it is natural to try and make sense of grief. The Year of Magical Thinking recounts a true-to-life tale of loss and heartache, demonstrating how one may turn to rational reasoning rather than simple acceptance in times of trouble. Journalist Joan Didion walks us through the grueling experience of losing her husband, John, and tending to her severely ill daughter, Quintana. She describes how she coped through “magical thinking”–using the power of her thoughts to alter a miserable reality or outcome. Passionate and brutally honest, The Year of Magical Thinking is a look into the unpredictability of life, proving that oftentimes the stepping stone to moving on is simply accepting grief as it is.
How To Make Friends With The Dark by Kathleen Glasgow
How To Make Friends With The Dark is a realistic, emotionally-charged novel about losing a mother, presenting grief in its purest form. Through the protagonist Tiger, Kathleen Glasgow vividly articulates the experience of losing a loved one: The fear that comes with it and the significance of sitting with your sadness. It’s a book that shifts grief from a foe to a friend. Touching on darker themes such as suicide, domestic violence, and alcoholism, Tiger’s story is a difficult yet inevitable pill to swallow for anyone who reads it. How To Make Friends With The Dark does not sugarcoat loss and loneliness, but encourages you to make peace with it.
The month of love does not mean we overlook grief, break-ups, and isolation, so we share these books in hopes that they may bring you some comfort. As a quick escape or just to feel understood, these stories are reminders that love and loss co-exist, and that you need not worry about going through one over the other.