Mo(u)rning Joy

Ignoring the theological error that our departed loved ones become angels (absent from the body, present with the Lord, but angels a different created being), this is a great memoir. Would recommend for friends and family of someone who has lost a child.

Thankfully I have never been in this terribly sad situation but as a mother of 3 sons I knew I had to read this book.

My heart was wrenched , I cried, I smiled, I don't think anyone who hasn't been there could fully appreciate the grief but the sadness would not leave after reading this wonderfully profound book. The joyful expectation parents feel about a new baby, to be lost, all plans gone, hopes and dreams shattered. Then madness and rage and heartache.

However what I loved was the honesty from a young woman who lost and found a way to continue and find her way forward. I'm so glad I read it.

I read this book in a few hours, it made me smile, laugh and cry. My mum had a baby born sleeping and so I could see how it affected mum in the same ways as it did this lady (I was only 8 at the time). Now as a mum of 2 induced for my first born I honestly don't know how anyone could get through the pain of going through labour knowing the outcome is so very bleak and heartbreaking. This book was amazing and dealt with the tragedy in a very "real" way. I applaud the author been able to write about Caswell and to have gotten through it so well keeping her faith, I'm not sure I could have done the same. Truly wonderful book.

Mo(u)rning Joy is the type of book you never hope to be intimately acquainted with, but desperately need it when you go through something as heart breaking and life shattering as the loss of a child. With stark honesty, humility, humor, and grace Kalan Lloyd leads us through the death of her son, Caswell. Raw, emotional, and riveting--I couldn't put down the book. It helped me know even more specifically how to pray for my friends that have gone through miscarriages. I'm thankful for this book and the voice it offers to such a hard and often not spoken of area of motherhood. I recommend Mo(u)ning Joy highly!

This was such an heartwrenching book to read. And inspiring too. Beautiful!

Difficult to read yet difficult to put down.

I thought this memoir was very well written and easy to read which sounds a bit of a strange thing to say when it concerns such an incredibly hard subject-but the author expertly gets you interested and involved. I liked how she didn’t spend a long time setting background info and had very short chapters or scenes-it was straight in, brutal, she was having to go through labour, knowing her baby had already died. After such shocking revelations you can’t help but read on.

I like how there are many ‘write as you talk’ expressions in here etc. These created a few smiles, the author could often be witty-and think on the subject. She manages to raise a few little chuckles in the way she retells her story and I found this remarkable.

The sweet cover pic is also used at the start of chapters and there is a significance to this picture which is revealed later on in the book. I started this very late at night and it held my attention straight away. I read up to 25% without stopping and didn't want to put it down. I read it in just a couple of days.

I didn't realise that the incidence of stillbirth is this much-1 in 160 births? Reading memoirs on this subject makes you realise how many people take having babies for granted; for some people it is a very long and very hard road and it’s amazing how they get through everything. I’m sure the author’s story will help and inspire many others in the same situation and will educate others on the sidelines looking in.