GREAT READS

Good Grief: A Novel

Lolly Winston.

I just pulled into the library parking and finished listening a great audiobook - "Good Grief" by Lolly Winston. Winston's writing style compares to Sherryl Woods and Susan Mallery. The narration was done by Cassandra Campbell and she was fantastic! The book is 9 discs long and runs approximately 10 hours. Just long enough for you to get into the story and enjoy, but not drag on.

The story begins with Sophie, a 36-year-old woman whose husband has died from cancer. She is going to counseling and has learned there are 5 stages of grief. However, as you listen to the book, Sophie's stages are nothing like the ones outlined. She shows up at work one day to chair a PR meeting in bunny slippers and a fuzzy robe. Needless to say, the job soon ends and Sophie starts anew by moving to Ashland, Oregon to stay with a friend. Along her recovery journey she goes through 14 stages of grief, including: Denial, Oreos, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Ashes, Lust, Waitressing, Mentoring, Dating, Baking, Acceptance, Goodwill and Thanksgiving.

Many quirky characters are introduced and as you listen, you become intertwined in the plot as easily as Sophie mixes up a batch of lemon tarts dusted with fresh lemon rind.

Although the book is pure fiction, there are some parts that make you think, truth is stranger than fiction. A wonderful listen and a highly recommended read.

Recommended by Linda Krauss