Memorial Days: A Memoir by Geraldine Brooks is a poignant account of love, loss, and healing. In 2019, Brooks’s husband, Tony Horwitz, a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, collapsed and died suddenly at age sixty. This unforeseen tragedy left Brooks grappling with profound grief amidst the demands of daily life.
Seeking solace, Brooks retreats to a remote Australian island, immersing herself in solitude to mourn and reflect. There, she explores various cultural mourning practices, contemplating rituals from Australia’s First Nations, Balinese traditions, and Iranian Shiite customs. This journey leads her to develop personal ceremonies that aid in reconstructing her life after loss. Sound personal loss with a broader examination of grief across cultures, offering readers a deeply moving exploration of resilience and healing. Memorial Days stands as a testament to enduring love and the complex path to finding peace after unimaginable loss.
