Wow! this was such a surprise! The fact that I was surprised, was really all my own issue. I was happily adding all sorts of water/ocean/lake/river and pond books to my list and the Librarian suggested this short memoir, Wave. I started it entirely blind, and was not entirely prepared for the depth and sorrow communicated within. We often think of water in terms of warm baths, sun-kissed beach days, or a storm, viewed from indoors with a cozy cup of tea, but Wave reminds us that water can be wild, dangerous and changemaking.
Lest anyone feel they might want to jump in unawares, I'll note that this is a beautiful memoir told by a woman who - with almost no warning- lost much of her family to the historic tsunami in Sri Lanka in 2004. This is a story of grief, loss of parents, children and partners. It is, however, also a story of recovery and new beginnings.
Deraniyagala tells her story of loss, grief and recovery with a direct and unapologetic prose that is so welcome, as it is a difficult story to absorb, without any added literary "flair"
She highlights the capriciousness of both nature and life, and gives the reader a clear view of the many pieces of grief- the good (where she is able to connect with old friends and memories), the bad (when she decides to haunt the renters of a former home) and the healing (moving on to a new environment and taking her memories with her, rather than escaping them).
This is a worthy read as we have all experienced loss and grief. Deraniyagala- an Economist by trade- allows us in to experience a "worst things imagined" real life situation, and in a way, she shows us all that there is a way out and forward, even if it isn't straightforward, or clear. I didn't feel a "Happy ever ending"- but I did have a sense of satisfaction and peace at the conclusion.
STATS:
First Published: 2013
Pages: 256
Available as an Audiobook: YES
Trigger warnings: Child loss, Partner loss, Parent loss, alcohol use, depression , natural disaster
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