Whether you’re dealing with the grief that comes after losing a loved one or facing the reality of your own mortality (or everything in between), it’s hard to not only cope with death, dying, and bereavement, but to even talk about it. The irony of death’s taboo nature is that dying is a universal issue each and every one of us will eventually face. To help overcome these stigmas, the Natrona County Library partners with Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions to offer a quarterly book discussion group that focuses on life, death, and grieving at their ‘Til Death Due You Part Book Club.
This gathering provides a comfortable atmosphere in which to share a respectful, thought-provoking, and life-affirming conversation on the topics of death, dying, and bereavement. Anyone is invited to attend, not just those who are currently utilizing hospice services.
This unique book discussion group has been meeting since January of 2019, and the meeting location alternates between the Library and Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions to make the gathering more accessible. Participants even get a free copy of the book. In 2023, the group will read and discuss the following books:
- “Everything is Horrible and Wonderful: A Tragicomic Memoir of Genius, Heroin, Love and Loss” by Stephanie Wittels Wachs
- “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory” by Caitlin Doughty
- “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom
- “Someone You Love is Gone” by Gurjinder Basran
These books, and the books discussed over the past several years, provide readers with a glimpse into the variety of experiences death offers and the paths others have found through the trials of the dying process. There are no better teachers about death and dying than those who have encountered it already. Starting an end-of-life book club like this in your community is a great way to unite people around a shared human concern that we often ignore until it’s too late.
For more information about this topic, book discussion group, or books, call 577.7323 or visit muurausahvenlampi.com/book-clubs.