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My Odyssey: A Memoir
A compelling story of spirit and hope...
Nine years of loss ‒ nine years of living and dying and raising three teens while working dawn to dusk. I came through it, though, with an awareness my priorities, who I am and where I belong.
A world where handshakes are meaningless, love is a tear sliding down my cheek, and death has become too‒c1ose of a companion: how could I keep going? Step by step.
Bird feathers, dolphins, a moon that brought me up short - these were the symbols that showed me the way. In turn, I gained a family filled with love, confidence to move on and explore my new voice.
Nine years of loss ‒ nine years of living and dying and raising three teens while working dawn to dusk. I came through it, though, with an awareness my priorities, who I am and where I belong.
A world where handshakes are meaningless, love is a tear sliding down my cheek, and death has become too‒c1ose of a companion: how could I keep going? Step by step.
Bird feathers, dolphins, a moon that brought me up short - these were the symbols that showed me the way. In turn, I gained a family filled with love, confidence to move on and explore my new voice.
228 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2011
About the author
Kathryn H. Clark
9 books1 follower Kathryn Clark grew up near Cape Cod, Massachusetts and attended the Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Massachusetts for her high school education. It was here that she developed her
love for the power of the written word, mentored by creative writers and teachers. She pursued her college education first at Johnston College, University of Redlands, where she began to
question the origins of the subject matter she was learning. The answers led her back to Herodotus, Aeschylus, Plato, Aristotle and Euclid, to mention just a few. She transferred to the University of California at Berkeley to pursue her Greek studies in earnest. Here, ancient Greece become modern for her and shaped her new understanding of the world. Here, she met her husband and followed him to New York City where he attended graduate school.
Having three children took precedence in her life, and she
never lost her love of returning to Greece with her family, imparting her love of Greece and knowledge to her children during their formative years. Her children now young adults, she has found the time to return to Greece to write.
She loves to sail, hike and be close to her many varied friends, which of course includes all animals.
love for the power of the written word, mentored by creative writers and teachers. She pursued her college education first at Johnston College, University of Redlands, where she began to
question the origins of the subject matter she was learning. The answers led her back to Herodotus, Aeschylus, Plato, Aristotle and Euclid, to mention just a few. She transferred to the University of California at Berkeley to pursue her Greek studies in earnest. Here, ancient Greece become modern for her and shaped her new understanding of the world. Here, she met her husband and followed him to New York City where he attended graduate school.
Having three children took precedence in her life, and she
never lost her love of returning to Greece with her family, imparting her love of Greece and knowledge to her children during their formative years. Her children now young adults, she has found the time to return to Greece to write.
She loves to sail, hike and be close to her many varied friends, which of course includes all animals.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 20, 2012
Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes it’s unfair. "Echoes of the Moon" is a wonderful example of the unfairness of life and one woman’s struggles to overcome it. Her father and husband both die of cancer in a short time span. How do you move on from that? How do you pick of the pieces of your life? With courage, strength, and determination. A widow with three kids and a mortgage to pay for, she ventures out into the job market, attempting to balance work with parenting and grieving. Her and each of her children grieve in different ways and find their way through it in different lengths of time. Later, she helps a few of her friends though the process as they also lose loved ones.
Kathryn Clark shows us one woman’s struggle through grief and death in a heart wrenching and moving story. Her deep love for and understanding of the Ancient Greek culture and religion is woven throughout the story, giving a unique perspective on the process of death, grieving, and moving on. The reader sees the courage, strength, and determination in the narrator as she deals with the hardest thing in the world, losing a loved one….twice.
I wish I would have known cancer was part of this story. That part was very hard for me to read because of my own experiences with it. However, I was very glad I stuck with this book. It was a rewarding read for me. Anyone who has lost a loved one will appreciate the journey through grief, and back to life. Clark shows us the hard times and the good times, the struggles and the insights gained on this journey. I laughed and I cried. It’s an emotional read, but then, life is messy and emotional. Life is hard and unfair but each character grows stronger because of it.
Kathryn Clark shows us one woman’s struggle through grief and death in a heart wrenching and moving story. Her deep love for and understanding of the Ancient Greek culture and religion is woven throughout the story, giving a unique perspective on the process of death, grieving, and moving on. The reader sees the courage, strength, and determination in the narrator as she deals with the hardest thing in the world, losing a loved one….twice.
I wish I would have known cancer was part of this story. That part was very hard for me to read because of my own experiences with it. However, I was very glad I stuck with this book. It was a rewarding read for me. Anyone who has lost a loved one will appreciate the journey through grief, and back to life. Clark shows us the hard times and the good times, the struggles and the insights gained on this journey. I laughed and I cried. It’s an emotional read, but then, life is messy and emotional. Life is hard and unfair but each character grows stronger because of it.
November 2, 2012
The memoir is a highly personal account of the 7 years during which the author lost 3 close family members: father, husband, and mother. Ultimately, she grew close to her 3 children and formed bonds with neighbor-turned-friends, some of whom also lost their husbands. Due to her love of travel, there are also quite a few trips mentioned, most commonly taking place in Greece.
At times, there were details that were shocking to read and which may affect one’s receptibility. In all, the story was moving and it was interesting to read about the author’s personal change and growth over time.
On an editorial note, I noticed that there were quite some errors—I caught 15 to be exact. I’m a detail-oriented reader and while I recognize that ‘shit happens’—as the author would say—I’m wondering if there was even an editor involved. It’s a pet peeve of mine that I can and often overlook, however, for it to happen that many times borders on downright careless in my view. I’m sure any writer would want their work represented in the best light, and sadly something went amiss in this here situation.
At times, there were details that were shocking to read and which may affect one’s receptibility. In all, the story was moving and it was interesting to read about the author’s personal change and growth over time.
On an editorial note, I noticed that there were quite some errors—I caught 15 to be exact. I’m a detail-oriented reader and while I recognize that ‘shit happens’—as the author would say—I’m wondering if there was even an editor involved. It’s a pet peeve of mine that I can and often overlook, however, for it to happen that many times borders on downright careless in my view. I’m sure any writer would want their work represented in the best light, and sadly something went amiss in this here situation.
March 21, 2013
This is a great book in so many ways. As a story, it's a compelling, fast read, but it also gave me a new, healthier and more aware, view of life. There are so many points to ponder and discuss that every reader will take away their own unique interpretation of it's message. It is filled with parallels you might not even notice when you are reading it, but will occur to you even days afterward as you make connections with your own life and beliefs. Whether you read it for the narrative or the vivid descriptions of the travel, it will stay with you forever.
August 27, 2012
Story of surviving and growing stronger after multiple deaths in the family, over a fairly short period of time. Also included was the author's love of Greece and travels there. Didn't draw me in as much as I would have liked.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews