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maybekatie1145 's review for:
Wave
by Sonali Deraniyagala
I rarely write reviews, but this was one of the most profound books I have ever read. Deraniyagala's retelling of the wave was haunting and also informative to me as I am interested in disaster relief. But I was most honored to read about all of the memories that she shared with her family prior to that awful day. This book reads as a beautiful eulogy, not only to these specific individuals lost, but to all humans who have been lost. It is a poignant reminder to pay attention to the small moments of joy and calm and even impatience that you have with your loved ones while they are with you. This book reminds me of that idea of seeing your life pass before your eyes before you die. What will you remember? All those little moments. The laughter, the minor annoyances, the beauty of the mundane. Deraniyagala lets us into her world here so that we might be able to see ours clearer.
While parts of this book are full of agony, I personally read it as a hopeful message. Not in the sense that "everything is fine", but in the sense that, if you can face horrible grief with a brave heart, you will also eventually be able to access the deep love that lives there. Since loss and death are an inevitable part of being human, this memoir felt deeply human to me.
In response to some of the critical comments here regarding the author's privilege, I would suggest watching her "Clinton School Speakers" talk from 2013, as she addresses this directly (starting around the 26 minute mark). She is aware of this and, as an economist, she now studies and calls attention to how disasters impact communities in poverty: Clinton School Speakers: Wave | Sonali Deraniyagala | 2013
While parts of this book are full of agony, I personally read it as a hopeful message. Not in the sense that "everything is fine", but in the sense that, if you can face horrible grief with a brave heart, you will also eventually be able to access the deep love that lives there. Since loss and death are an inevitable part of being human, this memoir felt deeply human to me.
In response to some of the critical comments here regarding the author's privilege, I would suggest watching her "Clinton School Speakers" talk from 2013, as she addresses this directly (starting around the 26 minute mark). She is aware of this and, as an economist, she now studies and calls attention to how disasters impact communities in poverty: Clinton School Speakers: Wave | Sonali Deraniyagala | 2013