Books, Films and Poems that Deal with Grief.

katietrinder
1 day ago
2 min read

Grief is deeply personal, we all try and find comfort in different things. For some it is talking to family and friends, some seek solace outdoors, or through exercise. For others it is books, films and poetry that help us deal with grief.

Here's a few suggestions for books, films and poems that might help. It is not an exhaustive list, but it's a place to start.

📚 Books on Grief

Memoirs / Personal Reflections

"The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion – A raw, intimate account of Didion's experience after the sudden death of her husband.
"When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi – A neurosurgeon’s reflection on life and mortality after his terminal diagnosis.
"A Grief Observed" by C.S. Lewis – A powerful journal of mourning after the death of Lewis’s wife.

Fiction

"Lincoln in the Bardo" by George Saunders – A moving, imaginative novel about Abraham Lincoln mourning his son.
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer – A boy copes with the loss of his father in 9/11 through a poignant, creative journey.
"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold – A girl narrates from the afterlife after being murdered, exploring grief from both sides.

Supportive / Practical Guides

"It's OK That You're Not OK" by Megan Devine – A validating book that challenges the idea of "moving on" and offers real tools for support.
"Healing After Loss" by Martha Whitmore Hickman – Daily meditations for working through grief.

🎬 Films That Address Grief

"Ordinary People" (1980) – A family tries to cope with the accidental death of a son.
"Manchester by the Sea" (2016) – A haunting portrait of a man grappling with profound guilt and grief.
"Rabbit Hole" (2010) – Explores a couple’s journey through the loss of their child.
"The Farewell" (2019) – While not strictly about death, it deals tenderly with anticipatory grief and family.
"Coco" (2017) – An animated exploration of memory, family, and the afterlife.
"My Life Without Me" (2003) – A young woman prepares for death while keeping it a secret from her loved ones.

✒️ Poems on Grief and Loss

"Funeral Blues" by W.H. Auden – A stark, devastating poem on the finality of loss.
"Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep" by Mary Elizabeth Frye – Offers comfort through the idea of presence after death.
"Remember" by Christina Rossetti – A meditation on memory and letting go.
"One Art" by Elizabeth Bishop – A villanelle about loss, written with both restraint and sorrow.
"In Blackwater Woods" by Mary Oliver – Encourages acceptance and the letting go of what we love.