A good read, heart-breaking at times but also inspiring in equal measures. After the death of her 7 year old son Christopher, Carol uses her work as a journalist to meet up with some people, who have also encountered life changing situations, to help in her own healing process. This is a very powerful, well put together story and makes for a satisfying, if uncomfortable at times, read.. Often, people become cocooned in their own little world - and books like this can maybe help to extricate them and perhaps enable them to see a bigger picture - recommended. Many thanks to Abrams for my ARC copy through Netgalley for an honest review.

Crossing the River is a memoir of grief by Carol Smith, who was blind-sided by the sudden death of her son when he was seven years old. Although born with health challenges (and declared by doctors at the time to be suffering conditions “incompatible with life”), Christopher defied the early odds and was growing into a sweet and capable little boy when his life was cut short. The grief that descended onto Smith was overwhelming and lasted for decades, but as an award-winning newspaper journalist who specialises in medical stories, she would eventually write about many people who were facing incredible health challenges that would show Smith a pathway for dealing with her own pain. This was a hard book to read (perhaps a harder book to rate), but I truly appreciate the honesty, humanity, and vulnerability that Smith displays here. Her voice is clear and engaging, and through the stories of the seven individuals about whom she writes, Smith eventually relates her own entire history — before and after her time with Christopher — and besides being a moving look into a difficult life, I can see how this might be a useful resource for others suffering debilitating loss.

Thank you Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I would like to mention the necessity of some books having content warnings in big letters. Yes, we know that this deals with the difficult topic of the death of a child but there is so much more that comes with it that the reader should be warned on top of that.

And the trigger warnings for me were too many to make myself finish the book in the first place. And it is hard enough to rate and review memoirs, but this one is just even harder so I will just say, that the author does a great job conveying their feelings and it is certainly an important read for anyone who can stomach it.

"Crossing the River: Seven Stories That Saved My Life" is a sort of memoir in the form of a collection of essays. If you are looking for something hopeful and uplifting, this is not the memoir for you. If you are looking for something heavy and oppressive, this is the memoir for you. And is that because, in a way, it's almost like a survival guide. Carol Smith lays out the tools she discovered amidst all the pain and grief, the tools that helped her get from one day to the next.

Because, and I agree with this thinking, sometimes it is all you can do.

Ms. Smith immersed herself, as a newspaper journalist, in struggle and tragedy after the personal struggle and tragedy she had endured, and would never really not be enduring, that came with the severe illness and eventual death of her small son. Some people can't do that, some people can't read that. Some people need to put their grief There and move to Other Things. In a way, it seems like Ms. Smith needed her grief to be always right Here while she lost herself in stories cut through with undercurrents of grief and struggle, because in seeing others survive, shew as able to remind herself that she could do it too.

None of the seven stories are easy to read, easy to digest and appreciate. But there is a raw beauty in the pain in them, and that's what makes tomorrow possible... the painful beauty that living can be.

Publication Date: May 4, 2021

(Thanks to NetGalley and Abrams Press for the chance to read an early copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.)

Although beautifully written, this book is difficult to read through the tears. Carol Smith does a wonderful job describing the agony of losing a child and finding a reason to continue. My heart swelled with joy and broke after each page.

I really loved the writing, the real life stories and the rich presence of humanity that pervades this book by Carol Smith. It deals with loss and you can feel both the immediacy and the perspective of it. I cried at times, and marveled at others. Human connections, resilience, love, learning so much to savour and enjoy. Highly recommended.

Emotionally moving heart wrenching.A book that shows you how we are all on journeys all suffer grief,A book I will be recommending so well written so much to discuss.#netgalley#abrams

Thank you so much to #Netglley and Abrams press for the arc.

This was such a powerful memoir full of so many stories that show you that everyone is going through a journey and everyone has their own battles.

Thank you for the stories of strength and love

Crossing the River (A Memoir) by Carol Smith.

“Some books you read, some books you enjoy. But some books just swallow you up heart and soul” Joanne Harris

As I was nearing the end of this book I saw this quote on #bookstagram and it immediately jumped out at me perfectly articulating just how incredible I found this book.

This book is a memoir of a mother who lost her son, Christopher when he was just 7 years old and how her job as a journalist led her to meet 7 people that in telling their stories helped her come to terms with the profound loss of Christopher.

Smith has a beautiful writing style, it was effortless and smooth in delivery, expertly intertwining her story with those spotlighted. This is an emotional and inspiring read about the true resilience of people but morbid and depressing it is not.

“The stories weren’t depressing to me. They were testaments to the enormous transformative power of loss. The people who shared their lives with me showed me that. Their experiences had changed them, and in turn changed me. They taught me empathy. They taught me courage. They taught me humility. They saved me.”

I am truly honoured to have been approved to read this advance copy by @abramsbooks and @netgalley I have recently lost my beloved Grandma and this book has helped me in so many ways. Thank you ❤️

It is out 4th May 2021 and I would implore everyone to read this book.