This is not one of your standard meditate-through-the-pain-self-help books. This is the story of a real womans journey through two very difficult situations: surviving the loss of a spouse, and still managing to complete her PhD. Each one of these paths individually is challenging, but to walk them simultaneously is harrowing. Read a book that describes the circumstances leading to a relatively happy 30-something married mom becoming a single mom, student, and widow. See her evolution from dazed mourner to accomplished scholar and enjoy the quirky humor, poetry, and stories she shares along the way. This book will not provide you with the one answer to deal with grief, but it will reassure you that there are many things you can try on your own journey.