For day twelve of our grief books, we share a novel from 1961 – A Grief Observed.
A Grief Observed is C.S. Lewis’s personal reflection on grieving the loss of his wife, Joy, and the struggle to maintain faith through profound sorrow.
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A Grief Observed
by C.S. Lewis
In A Grief Observed, C.S. Lewis reflects on his experiences of grief following the death of his wife, Joy, from cancer. Through a series of journal entries, he explores the emotional complexities of mourning, including feelings of fear, despair, and anger, as well as a struggle with his faith.
Over time, he finds a way to navigate his loss and reconnect with life. This edition pairs the original text with responses from various writers, offering additional perspectives on Lewis’s work.
Featured Amazon review…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A soul laid bare
“I read this as a follow-up to Lewis’ earlier work, The Problem of Pain for an alternative look at theodicy. It has to be said that the book is extremely short (only 59 pages, fact). It is probably appropriate to state what the book is not, as much as what it is. Written in the immediate aftermath of the death of Lewis’ wife, it is not a detailed product of careful study or a complete thesis on the subject of dealing with grief. Lewis was merely trying to gather his thoughts into some semblance that would make sense. His extraordinary erudition and lucidity are what make it a great book. I found myself at many times reading in print thoughts that had been half-articulated in my own mind.“
Amazon customers say…
Readers find the book comforting and insightful, appreciating its honest, clear writing. It’s praised for its moving pace and authentic exploration of grief. While some consider it brief and impactful, others believe it’s worth revisiting multiple times for its depth and clarity.
Photo by redcharlie on Unsplash
To view the complete list of our advent of books, please explore our Books for Grief Hub.
🧠 Understand the ‘Stages’ of Grief
Many people first encounter grief through the idea of “stages,” but the model is often simplified or misunderstood.
Our Stages of Grief page looks at where the framework began, what each stage represents, and how it can support understanding – without suggesting that grief unfolds in a tidy order.
Explore the page to learn:
📘 A clear explanation of what the Five Stages are (and what they’re not)
🧭 Why grief rarely moves in a straight line
🌊 How feelings can rise and fall in waves
🧩 Other grief models that may resonate more with your experience