Do books have the power to heal us?

In 'The Grief Cure: Looking for the End of Loss,' Cody Delistraty delves into the complexities of grief, drawing from his personal experience of losing his mother. The book questions the conventional five stages of grief and instead highlights the unique and personal nature of the grieving process. Delistraty examines cultural, historical, and scientific approaches to grief, including innovative therapies such as psilocybin, AI, and memory deletion. He also discusses the societal pressures that influence how we mourn and the importance of open communication and community in the healing process. The book emphasizes that grief is not something to be cured but rather integrated into one's life, and it provides a guide for readers to approach their own grief with a fresh understanding.

The novella follows the life of Robert Grainier, an orphan sent to Idaho in 1893. Grainier works as a laborer, building bridges and felling trees for the expanding railways. He finds happiness with his wife and daughter but faces tragedy when a wildfire changes his life forever. The story is a reflection on isolation, the closing of the American West, and the simple yet harsh life of a pioneer. It juxtaposes the sounds of trains with the natural world, creating a dream-like and elegiac portrait of Grainier's life.