The Light of the World by Elizabeth Alexander

" In THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, Elizabeth Alexander--poet, mother, and wife--finds herself at an existential crossroads after the sudden death of her husband, who was just 49. Reflecting with gratitude on the exquisite beauty of her married life that was, grappling with the subsequent void, and feeling a re-energized devotion to her two teenage sons, Alexander channels her poetic sensibilities into a rich, lucid prose that describes a very personal and yet universal quest for meaning, understanding, and acceptance. She examines the journey we take in life through the lens of her own emotional and intellectual evolution, taking stock of herself at the midcentury mark. Because so much of her poetry is personal or autobiographical in nature, her transition to memoir is seamless, guided by her passionate belief in the power of language, her determination to share her voyage of self-discovery with her boys, and her embrace of the principle that the unexamined life is not worth living. This beautifully written book is for anyone who has loved and lost. It's about being strong when you want to collapse, about being grateful when someone has been stolen from you--it's discovering the truth in your life's journey: the good, the bad, and the ugly. It's Elizabeth Alexander's story but it is all of our stories because it is about discovering what matters"--

Loved this memoir, which also happens to be Michelle Obama's favorite of 2015. I read a copy from the library, but am going to buy one for myself. I keep re-reading passages and want it on hand.

It's not fair of me to write this review a year after reading the book; I'm doing so nonetheless because a friend has just marked it to-read. That said, the reason I never wrote a review in the first place was that I never cared enough. I found the book heavy, even smothering. Perhaps I'm too old or too ignorant of big-city life. Perhaps I'm too aware of mortality already; or too broad in how I love. Perhaps I'm just too male. I don't know.

My M.O. here on Goodreads is to read the book, write my review, and only then go skimming through others' reviews. That, I hope, diminishes unconscious biases in my writing while still allowing me to learn and think and oh-hmmm from the experiences of others. This time, I don't think I'll bother with the skimming-reviews part. I just don't care enough: I remember my oh-thank-goodness relief at finishing the book, having it be over and done with. I want to hold on to that, not revisit the book or find reasons why I should have cared. If, however, you are a Goodreads friend who has read and loved the book—and if you're inclined enough to explain to me why I should care—I will listen to your opinion with my full attention.