Before Their Time

This book is divided into four sections. In section one and two, adult children tell their own stories about the aftermath of the death of their mother or father by suicide. In the third section, four adult children from the same family describe the suicide of their mother, and in the fourth section, two experts write about research and treatment. In section one and two, although the adult children have different backgrounds, their accounts contain common themes that illustrate the near-universal emotions people experience in the wake of suicide. As a counterpoint, in section three, four siblings have different perspectives on the same suicide, showing there is no single way to grieve. The final section is titled `Research and Resources' but could also have been titled `Myth Busters' since it contains facts about suicide based on empirical observation and may provide the reader with fresh insights. Overall, the only misstep the editors make is the decision to exclude gory details (i.e., finding the dead parent) and this omission reinforces the idea that this issue is too horrible to write about or to read. This quibble aside, the book will help a select but not small group of grieving adults and provides both consolation and information.

The book is aimed towards the adult child survivor. It details some of the many different types of emotions that one experiences. Insightful information passed on by other's losses. It illustrates everything from the initial shock to how many explain the cause of death to the grandchildren. The book demonstrates how the loss of each parent affects both the daughter and the son of the parent. A must read for any sdult child who is experincing the whirlwind of emotions from their loss.