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The Light of the World
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
34 posts | 36 read | 55 to read
A NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRLE AWARDS FINALIST, AUTOBIOGRAPHYNew York Times BestsellerFirst Lady Michelle Obama's Favorite Book of 2015A New Yorker, NPR, Boston Globe, Publisher's Weekly, Newsday, Library Journal, People.com, Shelf Awareness, The Root, and St. Louis Dispact Best Book of 2015 PickNew York Times Book Review Editor's ChoiceAn Amazon's Best Book of the Month, April 2015IndieBound Indie Next #1 Pick, May 2015A deeply resonant memoir for anyone who has loved and lost, from acclaimed poet and Pulitzer Prize finalist Elizabeth Alexander. In THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, Elizabeth Alexander finds herself at an existential crossroads after the sudden death of her husband. Channeling her poetic sensibilities into a rich, lucid price, Alexander tells a love story that is, itself, a story of loss. As she reflects on the beauty of her married life, the trauma resulting from her husband's death, and the solace found in caring for her two teenage sons, Alexander universalizes a very personal quest for meaning and acceptance in the wake of loss. THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD is at once an endlessly compelling memoir and a deeply felt meditation on the blessings of love, family, art, and community. It is also a lyrical celebration of a life well-lived and a paean to the priceless gift of human companionship. For those who have loved and lost, or for anyone who cares what matters most, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD is required reading.
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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Pickpick

The author‘s husband dies unexpectedly and too soon. Their young son finds him in his last moments. And his beloved wife, now a widow, processes these events and figures out how to go on alone. Yup, super emotional. And absolutely beautifully written. Alexander is a poet and professor. She knows the craft of writing. And it shows. Loved every word of this!

Full review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2022 #booked2022 #includesarecipe

jlhammar I loved this memoir. Great review! 2y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @jlhammar Thanks - it‘s easy to review such a good book! 2y
Cinfhen This sounds amazing 🤩 #stacked 2y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen It definitely is. My book group friends listened to the audio, which the author read. They said it‘s excellent. 2y
Cinfhen Good to know!! Thanks for the audio tip ♥️ 2y
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suvata
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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• ModernMrsDarcy.com #MMD book club pick for March 2022 #MMDBookClub

I was pretty sure that I didn‘t like poetry. I guess the real problem was that I hadn‘t found the right poet for me. Well, Elizabeth Alexander just touched my heart with her words in unimaginable ways.

In The Light of the World, Elizabeth Alexander finds herself at an existential crossroads after the sudden death of her husband.

tokorowilliamwallace Something similar occurred to me with a recommendation of Wislawa Szymborska almost three years ago. Though it probably was mainly the person who recommended and the context of the situation at hand, with the opening of my emotionality and sentimentality which I'm sure allowed for it---perfect storm, so to speak. 2y
Kerrbearlib Love this book 2y
52 likes2 comments
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AvidReader25
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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Pickpick

This poetic memoir on grief reminded me of From Scratch. Both women lost their husbands at a young age & dealt w/different cultural backgrounds in their relationships. This one was missing the passion for cooking, but includes a celebration of the small joys in life. It‘s heartbreaking these women had such similar stories.

“For those were the years of amorous love & its fulsome expressions which sustain us through the winter months of marriage.”

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kspenmoll
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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Annie1215 I was basically a human puddle by the end of The Light We Lost 4y
OriginalCyn620 Pretty pic! 😥📚😥 4y
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Kerrbearlib
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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“Each of us is infinite.”

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MMenefee
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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This book is beautiful.

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Kerrbearlib
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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“...languages are epistemologies as well as human bridges.”

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EchoLogical
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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It took me a moment to figure out what I consider #comfortreads and it dawned on me that in some strange way #memoirs are my go-to comfort reads. I think reading about other people going through their particular circumstances and persevering comforts me. The tagged book was an exceptional memoir from the poet recalling the time in her life immediately after her husband dies unexpectedly.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#anditsaugust @RealLifeReading

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triplem80
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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I hope no one is fooled by my competence. The waters of sorrow continue to wash and wash.

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Buddys_Momma
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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Completely engrossed in this book right now. A beautifully moving and heart-wrenching tribute to the author's late husband. How lucky that she was one of the ones among us to really find her 'other'. We should all be so lucky.....💜

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SophfroniaScott
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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Pickpick

In this deeply moving and lyrical memoir the poet Elizabeth Alexander sifts through the images and sounds, tastes, scents, and touches of the life lost when her beloved husband Ficre suddenly dies from a massive heart attack. It is a powerful representation of their love. I felt privileged to have a seat at Alexander‘s family table, and to view the colors and shapes that form when love comes to stay and life is lived in its perpetual glow.

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SophfroniaScott
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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"Don't ever let anyone guilt-trip you, or tamper with what you know of your sacred love." I consider those words to live by.

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SophfroniaScott
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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This jumped the line--or should I say stack?--of my to-read list. I meant to check out a bit of it but now can't stop. Gripping, poignant already.

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SarahK
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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Elizabeth Alexander's prose is poetic as she describes her life with her husband and her life after he dies suddenly at age 50. I feel like my words couldn't even begin to do it justice.

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SarahK
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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It's a race against the clock to get some reading in before my eyes finish dilating.

rachelm I hate that feeling! 7y
minkyb 😂 7y
17 likes2 comments
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Denisereads75
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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This was a lovely and bittersweet memoir about the death of the author's husband and her courage to move on with her two children. Her love for him and their life together is apparent in every page.

Reviewsbylola Sounds heartbreaking. 💔💔 7y
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BooksForEmpathy
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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This book has opened my soul and broken my heart and made me breathe deeply in gratitude. Elizabeth Alexander is a poet, and her lyricism is rich & lavish & deeply, satisfyingly felt. She takes her time; I savored every page.

"I feel certain I can wait forever for him to come back. I leave the light on in the living room. The one that faces the street. If I am patient, he will come back... he would have waited forever for me."

Adventures-of-a-French-Reader I really like the cover! 7y
ReadingEnvy Your words really made me want to read it 7y
Beckys_Books Added to my tbr pile. 7y
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Tanner You've sold me on it, too! 7y
Kimzey I remember her poetry at Obama's inauguration. Thanks for reminding me about her memoir. Hope to read it in 2017! 7y
mauveandrosysky Wow, this looks truly devastating. 7y
jessdean I loved this book! 7y
100 likes20 stack adds7 comments
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kspenmoll
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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Such a lush heartbreaking memoir of her husband's life and death. The whole book could be quoted but I chose her bookstore memory to highlight. #bookstores #bookstoresofLitsy

BookishMarginalia 💜💜💜😢 7y
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Lesliereads
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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The Light of the World is such a moving memoir: bittersweet, wise, magical, delicious, and rich in cultural goodness. After hearing Elizabeth Alexander speak about it today, as part of the Chicago Humanities Festival, I'm going to read it, again. #memorablememoirs #memoir #art #painting #lovestories #elizabethalexander #authorevents

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kspenmoll
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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My haul from 2 Northampton bookstores! A lovely day trip to walk, drink coffee, peruse books , & buy cider, apples & cider donuts. 📚🍎☕️#bookstorehappy#readeverydayeverywhere#
#coffeeandbooks

bookishkai Did you go to Atkins Farm? Man oh man, best cider donuts ever. I miss the Valley hardcore this time of year. 7y
kspenmoll @bookishkris sorry just saw this! Atkins Farm it was -,my husband lived in East Hampton years ago so we make an annual fall trek- cider donuts to die for!!! Lucky we live close by in CT. 7y
21 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Kimberussell
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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Hoping this distracts me from the kid kicking the seat behind me.

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ErikasMindfulShelf
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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Karen3 Still Alice 😩💔 but so good. 8y
LeeRHarry Loved Still Alice and the Guernsey Literary book - nice choices 😊 8y
39 likes3 comments
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LauraBeth
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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When you have been casually walking by a book that has been sitting on your table for a month and then have the realization today that the painting on the cover was done by the author's late husband - the man who the entire book is about - and you have to take a moment and wonder how you missed that until now. #lifeisinthedetails

RebeccaH Oh!!! I love this book and I never knew that! I'll blame that on the fact that I read the ebook. Good to know! 8y
Well-ReadNeck ❤️❤️😭😭 8y
LauraBeth I would have never known had I not looked at the credits in the back @RebeccaH 😀 8y
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LauraBeth
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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Pickpick

I had started this book a month ago while on vacation but put it down because it was making me sad. Picked it back up this morning. Just go buy this because Elizabeth Alexander is amazing ❤️ I'm a better person for having read this.

SusanInTiburon I have been meaning to read this. Thanks for the touching reminder. 8y
jessdean Yes! Same here. I read it a couple months ago, borrowed from library but this is one I want to keep on my bookshelves!! Could've underlined so much. Also I heard audio version also good since she narrates it herself. Glad u enjoyed it!:) 8y
LauraBeth I agree @jessdean - this is definitely a book worth owning 😀 8y
jessdean Absolutely!😊 8y
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RebeccaH
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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Pickpick

Sad and lovely.

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RebeccaH
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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About to start this one. Prepared to cry.

BooksForEmpathy I actually just bought this about a month ago per a friend's recommendation. Please post a review so I can get a helpful push towards beginning it! 8y
17 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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LauraBeth
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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Just realized I don't have any Kleenex on hand for this 😥

CherylDeFranceschi Beautiful! 8y
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jessdean
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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Such a touching memoir, remembering her husband who died suddenly, yet lived an incredible life. It's also a beautiful love story.

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karareads
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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"When we met those many years ago, I let everything happen to me, and it was beauty."

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karareads
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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Pickpick

This may be one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. Elizabeth Alexander's love story made me weep at times and, at others, made me completely furious. I couldn't love this book more.

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Deannabm
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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"I never once doubted him, because that is how me made me feel. So I walk forward knowing I was loved, and therefore am loved."

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Deannabm
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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Pickpick

I keep having to read parts of this book out loud because the language is so beautiful and poetic.

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Deannabm
The Light of the World: A Memoir | Elizabeth Alexander
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