Alex Sosa
asked
Ava Dellaira:
Hi Ava! When I read your book I thought one of the main themes in it was grief. Having lost my mom recently, I identified a lot with some feelings and questions Laurel experiences. What is your take on this subject? Do you think in order to get past grief you have to go through a dark period in your life or death can also be understood with light? Can't wait to read more books from you!
Ava Dellaira
Hi James,
Thank you so much for the thoughtful question. I am so sorry to hear that you lost your mom. I lost my mom too, a couple years before I started working on Love Letters, and in part, I think it was that loss that inspired the story in a way, and writing it helped me to process my own grief. But to answer your specific question, no, I don't think that you necessarily have to go through a dark period, and yes, I think that death can also be understood with light. I think that in order to fully recover from any kind of loss or trauma, you have to allow yourself to feel your full range emotions, and that can take time. (For example, Laurel has a hard time in the book feeling that she's angry with her beloved sister -- but she eventually has to come to terms with that emotion in order to move forward). However, grief is different for every person who experiences it and I don't think there is any one right or wrong way to go through it.
I really loved this short piece by Cheryl Strayed (back when she was "Dear Sugar,") who also lost her mother. You might like it too: http://therumpus.net/2011/03/dear-sug...
Thank you so much for the thoughtful question. I am so sorry to hear that you lost your mom. I lost my mom too, a couple years before I started working on Love Letters, and in part, I think it was that loss that inspired the story in a way, and writing it helped me to process my own grief. But to answer your specific question, no, I don't think that you necessarily have to go through a dark period, and yes, I think that death can also be understood with light. I think that in order to fully recover from any kind of loss or trauma, you have to allow yourself to feel your full range emotions, and that can take time. (For example, Laurel has a hard time in the book feeling that she's angry with her beloved sister -- but she eventually has to come to terms with that emotion in order to move forward). However, grief is different for every person who experiences it and I don't think there is any one right or wrong way to go through it.
I really loved this short piece by Cheryl Strayed (back when she was "Dear Sugar,") who also lost her mother. You might like it too: http://therumpus.net/2011/03/dear-sug...
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