A review by jess_lovesreading
Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

This book was phenomenal and I will keep it forever to always dip into when times are tough. As someone that can relate, (my mum also died of cancer) this book spoke to me on so many levels. It was a very gentle and refreshing way to read about grieving a loved one in the form of illustrations that were both funny and also heartbreaking in equal measure. 

Reading Tyler’s story was thought provoking as I reflected on my own experiences alongside hers. All the honest thoughts and feelings you go through when someone you love is dying and the ways you try to cope afterwards were all so true and relatable. Sometimes you just need to know there are other people that understand how it feels, this book was a real comfort in that sense.

I also love that we get to know Tyler’s mom Rhonda, really well throughout her memoir, she paints such a vivid portrait of her. As Tyler is from a Jewish family I really enjoyed reading about the tradition of ‘Shiva’. How they mourn their loved ones for a week after the funeral, the whole family get together, eat lots of food, say prayers and reminisce about the person who died. I know we have a wake after funerals but this sounded like such a wholesome tradition I wish I could have done.

This book is really for anyone struggling with loss, you don’t have to have lost your mum specifically to read this. It is by far one of the best books I’ve read about grieving, the pain of loss, the uncomfortable post-death firsts and all those things you find difficult to talk about. Tyler has your back!