When Husbands Die [Paperback]

Shirley Reeser McNally (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2005

What happens to wives when husbands die? The quick answer is widowhood. The deeper truth is they are forced into a life change that has serious ramifications for themselves, their families, their friends and their futures. Are poems and songs written about widow-heroes, does literature extol their strength and courage, their independence gained, their new lives discovered? Hardly. But women have important stories to tell about this time in their lives when they come face to face with one of the most common and devastating life experiences for women everywhere. Seventy-nine story tellers have joined together to tell about the tragic time that begins when, in an instant, the husband dies, the man, the lover, the companion, the mate is gone-and so is the marriage!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

SHIRLEY REESER McNALLY, the originator of this project, is a graduate of Smith College as are Barbara Harrison Mulhern, Mary Witt Wydman and the majority of women whose stories are told in this book. Because Smith is a liberal arts college for women, it seemed logical to McNally that the alumnae of Smith would be a source and an audience for a study of widows. It has turned out to be so. 'The work,' she says, 'has been arduous, fascinating and redemptive.' The result is intended for current widows who can learn how others are handling the difficult situation forced upon them, and for women still married who, with their spouses, must plan for what will might occur in their futures.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Sunstone Press (March 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865344426
• ISBN-13: 978-0865344426
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,189,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical and Comforting, October 23, 2007

By 

Marianna van Erp (Mountain View CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: When Husbands Die (Paperback)

I received this book a few weeks after my husband of over 50 years died two years ago. I re-read portions of it now and then. It reassures about the feelings one has, that they are normal. It alerts to what might lie ahead. Of several suggested books, including C. S. Lewis's Grief Observed and Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking, I found When Husbands Die to be the most practical, relevant and comforting.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Coming to Grips with Feelings, October 7, 2005

By 

James Vandernaald (Los Alamitos, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: When Husbands Die (Paperback)

When one loses a spouse, it's common to be overwhelmed by memories, feelings, and worries that are unexpected and difficult to live with. This marvelous book puts you in the midst of a support group that helps with the issues of grief and the promises of a new life.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for Widows and Widowers Alike, September 30, 2005

By 

Sagehen 80 "Sage" (New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Husbands Die (Paperback)

Inspiring, Practical, and immeasurably helpful, this compendium of first hand experiences and advice is a must read for anyone experiencing a loss, or anticipating one--from information about financial matters, marriage, relationships, health, the process of dying, illness, and on to living--this is where the rubber meets the road for the bereaved.