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C.S. Lewis

A Grief Observed Paperback – April 21, 2015

by C. S. Lewis (Author), Madeleine L'Engle (Foreword)

4,412 ratings

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A classic work on grief, A Grief Observed is C.S. Lewis’s honest reflection on the fundamental issues of life, death, and faith in the midst of loss. Written after his wife’s tragic death as a way of surviving the “mad midnight moments,” A Grief Observed an unflinchingly truthful account of how loss can lead even a stalwart believer to lose all sense of meaning in the universe, and the inspirational tale of how he can possibly regain his bearings.

Print length

76 pages
Language

English
Publisher

HarperOne
Publication date

April 21, 2015
Reading age

18 years and up
Dimensions

5.31 x 0.25 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

0060652381
ISBN-13

978-0060652388
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"I read Lewis for comfort and pleasure many years ago, and a glance into the books revives my old admiratation."-- John Updike"A very personal, anguished, luminous little book about the meaning of death, marriage, and religion."-- "Publishers Weekly

From the Back Cover

Written after his wife's tragic death as a way of surviving the "mad midnight moments," A Grief Observed is C. S. Lewis's honest reflection on the fundamental issues of life, death, and faith in the midst of loss. This work contains his concise, genuine reflections of that period: "Nothing will shake a man—or at any rate a man like me—out of his merely verbal thinking and his merely notional beliefs. He has to be knocked silly before he comes to his senses. Only torture will bring out the truth. Only under torture does he discover it himself."

This is a beautiful and unflinchingly honest record of how even a stalwart believer can lose all sense of meaning in the universe, and how he can gradually regain his bearings.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperOne; 1st edition (April 21, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 76 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060652381
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060652388
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.28 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.25 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #4,329 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #4 in Christian Death & Grief
- #13 in Grief & Bereavement
- #25 in Love & Loss

Customer Reviews:
4,412 ratings

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C.S. Lewis

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CLIVE STAPLES LEWIS (1898-1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a fellow and tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954 when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics, the Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5

4,412 global ratings

5 star		78%
4 star		14%
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2 star		2%
1 star		1%

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Erik Hall

Grief is like a Long Valley

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 6, 2023

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"Grief is like a long valley, a winding valley where any bend may reveal a totally new landscape."

Over the years, I have enjoyed many of Lewis' books. However, this one has always slipped through the cracks. Today, that oversight was corrected.

Unlike any of his other works which I have read, this one is a journal. A very special journal. Within these pages are Lewis' daily thoughts as he faced the grief of losing his beloved wife to cancer. Moment by moment, the reader is invited into an inner world which few of us discuss honestly. The world of deep heartbreak.

There is no point in mincing words, reading Lewis' journey of grief is painful. Although the pages are few, I found myself shedding tears more often than any other book I have read excluding the Bible. With brutal honesty, Lewis shares the fear, confusion, pain, anger, and doubt he endured in his grief. Then, into that gloom the light begins to slowly shine again. He concludes with some of the most poignant words on faith, love, and hope which I have ever read as he begins to heal.

So far, this is the best book on grief which I have read. Admittedly, I have never lost a spouse. So I doubt that I can truly comprehend the depths of Lewis' pain. However, his words were a blessing to me in my own smaller griefs. I am thankful for this little book. If you have experienced loss or trauma, then I believe that this book could be a blessing to you.

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

David Armstrong

Knocking the houses of cards down

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 29, 2023

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A Grief Observed is a rare and sacred opportunity to see into the mind of a brilliant writer and thinker as he takes us on a journey through a dark landscape that most of us ignore but must all eventually travel. His bitter arguments against God at the outset are balanced and overcome by his faith in the reality of God and God's reality. Lewis compares his immature faith as a house of cards that God must knock flat repeatedly to bring Lewis to the reality of faith in a very good God. God is not a sadist but a surgeon. Though the operation is terribly painful, if the surgeon stopped when we complained of the pain, the operation would be a failure from which we would never recover. God's great enterprise is not to make us comfortable, but to make us gods.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 7, 2023

Verified Purchase

Although I have a little trouble following C.S.Lewis, I was able to pull out some very good thoughts about my wife's recent passing. I will continue to read, learn, and cry during a difficult time for me.

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Cool breeze 1956

CS Lewis knows grief

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 19, 2023

Verified Purchase

Bought this for a family member and wound up reading it myself. Dated but still relevant.

Helpful

Amanda Hupe

Words when I needed them most...thank you Mr. Lewis

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 4, 2021

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Two days after my Dad passed, I bought A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis. I needed something. I could not focus on reading fiction. I needed to read something by someone who I knew whose words would be a comfort. C.S. Lewis wrote these essays after the death of his wife. These are what he called, “mad midnight moments.” For those who are going through a loss, laying down to sleep is the worst. His path through grief is healthy and relatable. However, I lost my dad, not my husband, so this is a book I would recommend to someone who is grieving over a spouse or partner. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t quotes that spoke to me and I am grateful for the insight so I can be there for my mother and listen to her as she processes her grief. There are so many quotes. This isn’t really a review. Just a sharing of quotes that might help someone else.

“Talk to me about the truth of religion and I’ll listen gladly. Talk to me about the duty of religion and I’ll listen submissively. But don’t come talking to me about the consolations of religion or I shall suspect that you don’t understand.”

A GRIEF OBSERVED
THIS. In fact, if you haven’t experienced a loss, still read this book. I could write so many things now to NOT say to people when going through their grief….sorry I am still weaving in and out of the angry stage. But in all seriousness, never say “this is all a part of God’s plan.” Never, ever, EVER. This is like tearing open a wound in someone’s heart. It creates even more anger than before. It is not helpful or comforting. Don’t try to point out the “positives.” I will never see my dad again on this Earth. I have to go the rest of my life without another hug or him calling me, “Joop” because his answering machine couldn’t pronounce my last name. I will never see play with my sons or nephews again and the hole that is in my heart will never close.

“No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing. At other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between the world and me.”

I never contemplated a life without my dad. I am still in denial. He could walk in the door any minute. I still feel alone even though I am surrounded by an amazing support system. How did I get blessed with the most amazing family? My sisters, my mom, and I are already close but now we cling to each other and we have all been there for each other.

I am a fixer. I hate when those I love around me are hurting. I am trying to be a better listener because I am not the only one grieving. There is no fixing loss. The hurt and pain will hit in waves but it will never actually cease. As I said above, I hope this can help someone else. There are moments where I feel like I am drowning. But reading these words validated my feelings. They helped and could help you.

52 people found this helpful

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Gary Blue

C S Lewis - nothing more to add

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 18, 2022

Verified Purchase

yet to have embraced what he has to say - I just lost my spouse a month ago: not handing it well.

5 people found this helpful

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Plantagenet

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be his Name.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 5, 2018

Verified Purchase

Following the recent loss of my amazing wife many people told me that they could imagine how I felt - but they didn’t have the slightest clue.
Well-meaning people feel that they need to say something in sympathy but don’t know what to say and are unable to admit it.
This book hit the spot for me and I truly believe that my Heavenly Father directed me to it.
Here was a man, C.S. Lewis who really did know how I felt because he had actually been there.
My personal pain remains but God used this book to remind me that I was not alone, that my Heavenly Father held me still in his hands and used another man’s experience as that reminder.

34 people found this helpful

JennyB

Yellow stickies - measuring progress through grief!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 26, 2014

Verified Purchase

I was first signposted to this book nearly 18 years ago by a bereavement counsellor Maxine - who helped more than she knew or I ever told her!

At the time I really couldn't see my way out of almost stifling grief - but she gave me a copy of this book and suggested I read it - and pop a yellow sticky in the pages that most resonated with me.

A month or so on she suggested I re-read it and do the yellow sticky thing again - and already I could see I was moving on - if only through the stages of grief at that time. I hadn't believed it possible.

Several readings later - loads more yellow stickies - and months passed - and I finally understood what she'd been hoping for.

As hard as it seems - and as hard as it is to see - we do all move from where we started.

I found some of the book - especially the more religious bits hard going - and skipped over them - whilst appreciating even at the time that they might bring some comfort to others.

CS Lewis - wrote this book after the death of his love - portrayed in the film 'Shadowlands' - and despite being a rather restrained individual and theology boffin - went on to care for her son and from there we get the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe series - which made many kids like me really enjoy books.

I still have that original copy with all of the yellow stickies - and treasure it always as it tells my journey back to the land of the living far better than I could!

I've also bought copies for and passed on the yellow sticky advice on a very few appropriate occasions in the last 18 years. It has always helped.

A truly great book - inspirational and untold help.

If you ever find yourself in need of such a prop - well worth buying - and whilst the paper version and the yellow stickies - tried and tested - bookmarks or notes on kindle probably do the same thing.

I've just looked it out again on the recent death of a close friend's husband - and will be passing on a copy again.

51 people found this helpful

Dexter

A journey of grief

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 17, 2021

Verified Purchase

I've read and re read this book in a few decades of my life and its beauty pain and meaning become more intense and applicable . For any reader needing to find out about their own grief or a reader wanting to understand a little more I would recommend this beautiful love story of a great author and scholar and his intense relationship with an amazing lady of intellectual stature . Highly recommended

3 people found this helpful

J. Chambers

Someone who share the pain

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 14, 2014

Verified Purchase

I lost my beloved wife two years ago to cancer she was 62. I am a christian and have received a lot of support from friends at church. However grief was a subject that was never really discussed and comments like ' well at least she is with the lord now" didm;t really help . Anyway I have an aversion to to cliches and platitudes no matter how well meant. However this little book although has had me in floods of tears shows a real understanding of grief and helps me understand my grief. Although my wife died two years ago you learn to adjust and suppress grief because it is a private experience which you don't necessarily want to inflict on anybody else . This may be a typically male reaction to grief but to read the words of this great man who shared and understood my pain and I his is a life affirming and faith affirming experience

30 people found this helpful

Gabrielle R.

Grief comes in a thousand guises.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 11, 2017

Verified Purchase

Helpful though a little heavy on the religious aspect. This to be expected knowing Lewis's background. Grief is very individual and his experience having married someone already having been diagnosed with cancer was different from mine as I had been married 34 years and the cancer was the bolt from the blue for my husband and I. Lewis showed a different kind of courage than most bereaved people need but nevertheless was a consoling read.

13 people found this helpful

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