Crossing the River: Seven Stories That Saved My Life, A Memoir

A powerful exploration of grief following the death of the author's
son that combines memoir, reportage, and lessons in how to heal

Everyone deals with grief in their own way. Helen MacDonald found
solace in training a wild goshawk. Cheryl Strayed found comfort in
hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. For Carol Smith, a Pulitzer
Prize¿nominated journalist struggling with the sudden death of her
seven-year-old son Christopher, the way to cross the river of sorrow was
through work.
In Crossing the River, Smith recounts how she
faced down her crippling loss through reporting a series of profiles of
people coping with their own intense challenges, whether a freak
accident, a debilitating injury, or a terrifying diagnosis. Smith deftly
mixes the stories of these individuals and their families with her own
account of how they helped her heal. General John Shalikashvili, once
the most powerful member of the American military, taught Carol how to
face fear with discipline and endurance. Seth, a young boy with a rare
and incurable illness, shed light on the totality of her son¿s
experiences, and in turn helps readers see that the value of a life is
not measured in days.
This is a beautiful and profoundly moving
book, an unforgettable journey through grief, and a valuable,
illuminating read for anyone coping with loss.