Loving the dead and gone

Loving the dead and gone by Judith Turner-Yamamoto 

This was an ARC gifted to me by Netgalley. 

I was initially drawn in by the description, but that alone didn't prepare for how beautifully haunting this book is. 

Set in the 1960's, you would be forgiven thinking it was an even earlier time, where tradition is still being held steadfast. 

This book is multiple POV. I personally had no issues getting into each character, but I appreciate it isn't always easy to do so. But I felt this was one of the easier books for me to do so. Perhaps it was how wonderfully it was all written from the first page, even though it is a tragic event that starts the book. 

Grief is throughout the book, and it is illustrated in ways that lead people to do or make certain choices. 

Out of all the characters, Aurilla was the one who had me sitting here, enraged at her, then enraged for her. I didn't expect to find myself as sympathetic towards her as I ultimately did. That isn't to say I particularly liked her, but I understood her far more as a result.

Darlene, as a young widow, is at odds with her family on 'how' someone should grieve. This led her into an affair that wasn't romanticised, yet the way it was written made perfect sense within the context. 

These are just two of the multiple characters we learn about, but for me stood out the most.

Throughout Judith Turner-Yamamoto amazing prose was undeniable. How her imagery brought the book to life on every page. So many lines stood out for me as I read. 

This book is a thing of beauty. Even if this isn't perhaps your usual genre, I'd highly recommend it. 

5/5 stars 🌟 was an easy choice for me to make.