Customer Reviews

It Must Have Been Moonglow: Reflections on the First Years of Widowhood

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One need not lose a spouse or partner to appreciate the feelings and emotions that run rampant through the pages of this beautiful book. It is all about grieving, losing, coping, planning and making the decision to go on anyway. While the book is apparently aimed at middle-aged women who had long, happy marriages, according to editorial reviews, the book is also invaluable to those who have suffered through a divorce or simply lost someone very special from their life for any reason. Loneliness, emptiness, despair, and fear, know no boundaries.

"It Must Have Been Moonglow" is inspirational, sad, joyful and a whole basket full of mixed emotions. What the author must have felt while writing the book is not much different than anyone who has loved and lost. What sets the author apart from the rest of the world is that she has a unique ability to be able to express herself in words that many others cannot do quite as eloquently. This is a beautifully moving, sensitive book and most deserving of a five-star rating.

On this day especially, reading Peter Maclean's review of "It Must Have Been Moonglow" warmed me like no other. As biased as I obviously am, reading Mr. Maclean's unbiased and glowing review confirmed what I have always known. My mother sure can write! From a very proud son: you have to read "It Must Have Been Moonglow". Dare 3 7

Anyone who has experienced a significant loss must read this book! It is not just for widows. There is much for all of us here. Moonglow is neither preachy nor maudlin. Rather, Mrs. Greene tells her story of "getting by" and "getting through" after the death of her husband. And, after any loss, getting by and getting through is sometimes the most people can expect of themselves. Mrs. Greene's poignant descriptions of her life with her family and friends are touching and sometimes laced with humor as well. Her story is uplifting.

Calling herself "just another widow," Phyllis Greene has written a magnificent book. For those who love widowed parents, here is a swift education on their perspectives and daily challenges. Mrs. Greene helpfully reveals what we will eventually learn -- only if we outlive our happy marriages.

...is what Mrs. Greene provided for my mother after we lost my Dad. They had a long and happy marriage and while we had plenty of warning that we would lose Dad, she was understandably inconsolable when he died... ...until she read an article by Bob Greene about his mother's book. I can honestly say, she started to turn the corner while reading this book and has read it many, many times. I am online tonight buying a copy of it for my mother to give to one of her friends who recently lost her husband. I hope Mrs. Greene knows what a profound and generous contribution she has made to many grieving spouses. I personally would like to thank her for helping my mother resume her life and begin to find happiness again.

Buy the book, you won't regret it.

Not a word is wasted in Mrs. Greene's book. Whether she is so graciously sharing the simple truth of how a quiet day of TV and crossword puzzles can be truly precious when shared with someone you love in the chapter, "Killing Time, or Using It," or her honest and amusing poem about how she and her husband could no longer keep with tradition and join the gang for the Ohio State football games, this book is a pleasure for Mrs. Greene's honest and approachable style as well as for her insight into the truths of widowhood, and in general life on your own, however that came to be about for you.

There is a comonality we all share in grief when we lose a loved one. How great it is to read that we are not alone in our feelings. Thank you Phillis Greene for sharing this book with us.
I highly recommend it.
Kathrine Peterson
author of
Write from Your Heart, A Healing Grief Journal
Healing Stories of Grief and Faith (2002)
After the Tears, A Gentle Guide to Help Children Understand Death (video)

I read this book after seeing it mentioned in a review and was interested in what life must be like when a spouse whom you have been married to for a long time passes away. This would be a great book to give to someone who is going through the grief of losing a spouse and may provide some comfort in the universality of the experience.

I am a parish nurse. Several years ago a new widow in one of my congregations recommended this book. saying that of all the books on grief she had received upon the death of her husband, this gave her the most help, gave voice to many of her feelings and brought the most comfort. She strongly suggested that we give a copy to any woman newly widowed.

Thankfully, I have not walked in her shoes. I did read the book and could easily understand her reasons for recommending it for other newly widowed women. Her word needs to speak much more loudly than mine.

I wish I had read this book after my dad had died. I feel I would have known what my mom may have been experiencing even if she didn't say how difficult the first few years were after his death. I could have been a better daughter.