Amy Biancolli

In case it's not obvious, Figuring Sh!t Out is not a book about a light or happy subject. Nonetheless, I have never laughed so often or so loudly while reading a book about something so devastating, and that's the genius of Amy Biancolli's writing. She made me cry plenty, too--don't get me wrong. But in this collection of short chapter snapshots of her life in the year or so following her husband's suicide, laughter reigns. "Maybe" she writes at one point, "laughter is it . . . Maybe laughter is the only bridge we have between the light and the dark, the joy and the pain." Maybe so. It's certainly often been a life raft for me. In any case, Biancolli has done something great here, perhaps showing the way (or A way) to others who may find themselves in similarly dire circumstances, and humbly and humorously contemplating quite a lot of weighty topics that should interest any of us as she does. In telling it like it is and was for her, she doesn't skimp on the swear words, by the way. For me, this is a selling point, and is more than appropriate for the subject matter at hand. If you disagree, the title should be a tip-off and you can't say you weren't warned, but you'll miss a very good book if you pass it up!… (mer)

I read this book for a recent church women's retreat. In this work, Amy Biancolli lays bare her grief and the shared grief of her family experiencing the suicide death of her husband and father of her children. Her confusion, anger, love, faith, support systems, view of life post Chris is honest, and touches aspects of everyday life that newly widowed women don't readily share--especially women or children who have first hand experience with loss of a family member through suicide. The miracles she asked for from her late husband, and asked God's intervention for on behalf of her middle daughter was emotional and amazing.
Anyone who has experienced loss - women, children, men - will find parts of themselves in this book. It is a must read. I know I have said that before about many of the books I have reviewed for LibraryThing, however, this is a MUST READ.
Amy, thank you for sharing this aspect of your life with us.… (mer)