Tag Archives: death in literature



 The Last Man by Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley speculates on the end of mankind from an incurable plague

Known widely as the author of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley horrified us with her notorious monster brought to life with more humanity than we care to admit. She wrote much more than Frankenstein, however, and her later, lesser-known novel The Last … Continue reading

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“Sunday Morning” by Wallace Stevens

Wallace Stevens's famous declaration from "Sunday Morning" reconsiders death as vital to a full life

In a recent interview with SevenPonds, Terri Daniel encourages us to imagine death as catalyst for new growth, new perspective, new knowledge, or whatever an individual accepts as a gift buried in a loss. Mortality does not have to dampen … Continue reading

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Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Redefining what it means to be strong mentally and physically in the face of loss

  A few weeks ago, I was very pleased to find a book had magically downloaded on my Kindle.  I forgot I’d preordered it months ago after reading Cheryl Strayed’s essay, “The Love of My Life.”  After her mother died … Continue reading

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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The young adult novel that takes on death, love and loss

The Fault in Our Stars is about as YA as it gets — the snarky attitudes, teen love dramas and arguments with parents all scream young adult fiction. The only thing differentiating this book from so many others is its … Continue reading

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The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri

Sensitive, honest portrayal of loss in the story of the Ganguli family

The family saga is a tried-and-true literary genre, one that usually follows a central clan as they grow, marry, have children, age and eventually die. There’s a certain rhythm to these types of stories — unlike so many other novels, … Continue reading

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“The Monks and Me” by Mary Paterson

Learning grace and gratitude in unexpected places

After her father passed away, Mary Paterson needed to find stability in her life again. As an experienced yoga instructor, she’d relied on yoga and meditation to keep her centered before, but this time it wasn’t enough. So she decides … Continue reading

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