Alone Together: Love, Grief, and Comfort in the Time of COVID-19 by Jennifer Haupt

by Susan Roberts

"We can stay physically safe from coronavirus with social distancing and protective gear.  We can also manage the overwhelming fear of it by limiting stimuli and practicing mindfulness until the discomfort subsides.  And because this threat isn't going away anytime soon, we can resolve to keep doing these things for as long as it takes." (loc 1457)

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

September 2020; Central Avenue Publishing; 978-1771682282
audio, ebook, print (288 pages); essays

Alone Together is a collection of essays, poems, and interviews from over 90 authors and poets about how COVID-19 has affected them and their daily lives.  The essays are a powerful testament to the unprecedented times that the world is going through collectively.  Some of the essays made me laugh and some made me cry, just like life right now.  It was wonderful to read these pieces of literature to remind me that I'm not alone in my feelings of loss - loss of freedom, loss of friends and family, and a loss of the life we were living before the pandemic struck.  

Alone Together is divided into five sections: What Now?, Grieve, Comfort, Connect, And Don't Stop. The main theme is how this age of isolation and uncertainty is changing us as individuals and as a society. It's a connection for those of us who are depressed about what is going on and fearful of the changes that may occur in our futures.  I was crushed by the essays that spoke of family members and friends who had died from COVID-19 and the essays about people who lived by themselves and were truly alone.  I was uplifted by the people who were helping their neighbors by buying groceries or baking for them.  I was happy to see all of the ways that people were using to connect with other people.  But most of all, I was relieved to know that others were feeling the same sense of loss and confusion, the same worries about the future and their loved ones as I am.  The book left me with a feeling of connection to others as we all struggle on a daily basis and hope and pray for a better future for the world.

NOTE:   All contributing authors and business partners are donating their share to The Book Industry Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit organization that coordinates charitable programs to strengthen the bookselling community.

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Susan Roberts lives in North Carolina when she isn't traveling. She and her husband enjoy traveling, gardening and spending time with their family and friends. She reads almost anything (and the piles of books in her house prove that) but her favorite genres are Southern fiction, women's fiction, and thrillers. Susan is a top 1% Goodreads Reviewer. You can connect with Susan on Facebook, Goodreads, or Twitter.

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