Bøger af Pat Bertram

Grief: The Great Yearning is not a how-to but a how-done, a compilation of letters, blog posts, and journal entries Pat Bertram wrote while struggling to survive her first year of grief. This is an exquisite book, wrenching to read, and at the same time full of profound truths. "Grief: The Great Yearning by Pat Bertram is a book of empathic understanding. How many recently bereft have looked to society's guidelines for grieving and found these "norms" did not correspond to what they were feeling? How many were left confused and even more depressed because they were not "progressing" like the experts said they should? Bertram's book is a comfort to those of us tossed into the grief whirlwind of disbelief and agony. The entire book is raw and real. Grief: The Great Yearning is a companion guide from someone who has already been there. It is a forever love letter." -J J Dare, author of False Positive and False World. "Grief: The Great Yearning by Pat Bertram is a wonderful tribute to Jeff (Bertram's deceased life mate/soul mate) and to Bertram's own stamina." -Malcolm R. Campbell, author of The Sun Singer and Sarabande "Everyone needs to read Grief: A Great Yearning by Pat Bertram. It's the best grief book I've ever read, and I have read the Kübler-Ross books and The Year of Magical Thinking. Pat Bertram's book feels like what most of us would experience, makes me feel what she is feeling, and it's written from the inside out." -Brenda Buckner Wallace, author of Brilliant Prey "If people were to ask me for an example of how grief can be faced in order for the healthiest outcome, I would refer them to Grief: The Great Yearning, which should be the grief process bible. Pat Bertram's willingness to confront grief head on combined with her openness to change is the epitome of good mental health." -Leesa Healy, Consultant in Emotional-Mental Health.

All Chet Thomlin wants is to be left alone to care for the abandoned and neglected animals at his store, Used Pets, but his obnoxious customers and clinging mother make life miserable. And nothing ever seems to change.On April Fool's day, a gnome-like little man appears on television. He introduces himself as Bob, the Right Hand of God, and says that as part of the galactic renewal program, God has accepted an offer from a development company on the planet Xerxes to turn Earth into a theme parkChet laughs at the prank, but then bizarre things happen. Carrier pigeons return, millions of them, darkening the sky as they hadn't done for over a hundred years. His mother and her entire subdivision are wiped off the face of the earth. And his friends disappear.On Easter Sunday, a bright light appears, and Bob tells the remaining population of Denver that if they enter the light, they will be safe from the reconstruction zone. Chet watches people enter one by one, but he refuses to step forward, thinking that he'd rather have his freedom than to be in a dubiously safe place.The light fades, and Chet gets what he wanted. He is left alone. Well, except for Bob. Bob won't let him be. Bob calls Chet on his now defunct cellphone, taunts him, plays with his senses. Being chosen by The Right Hand of God is no fun!Even worse, Chet gets more change than he can handle. Plumbing and all other signs of civilization vanish. Denver becomes a prairie of blue flowers that sweep into an inland sea where a prehistoric monster lives. Volcanoes grow at his feet. And Chet has become prey.Maybe going into that mysterious light wouldn't be so bad after all...

Coping with the death of a loved one can be the most traumatic and stressful situation most people ever deal with - and the practical and emotional help available to the bereaved is often very poor. As the bereaved struggle to make sense of their new situation they often find that the advice they receive is produced by medical professionals who have never personally experienced grief; and filled with platitudes and clichés, with very little practical help. How long does grief last? What can I do to help myself? Are there really five stages of grief? Why can't other people understand how I feel? Will I ever be happy again? Pat Bertram debunks many established beliefs about what grief is, how it affects those left behind, and how to adjust to a world that no longer contains your loved one.