Death & Grief, Literature & Fiction, Religious, Parenting & Relationships, Religion & Spirituality 

It's the stuff of a front-page newpaper story: the Bohlmeijer family, on their way home from a Christmas celebration with relatives, miss a turn in the road and crash into a tree. After the accident, they're rushed to the hospital, all of them seriously injured. During their long hospitalization, Arno Bohlmeijer records a series of conversations with his wife, both while she clings to life in a coma and after she has died. These conversations are the heart of "To an Angel Who Is New," a kind of extended love letter that celebrates his wife's short life.A story like this has all the makings of melodrama, but in Bohlmeijer's sensitive hands it becomes a testimony to the enduring strength of love's bonds. From the beginning, he tells his wife everything in frank, journal-like entries that blend uncertainty and sorrow with love and gratitude. He explains how supportive friends and family are in this time of crisis, how he is coping with his physical and emotional challenges, and how their two young daughters are recuperating. His recounting is compelling and sometimes heartrending in its understated honesty.In this narrative we watch Bohlmeijer grapple with the hard questions of his new circumstances. He will recover from his physical injuries -- but what about his emotional ones? Who will he be without his best friend and soulmate? And how will he manage day-to-day? What kind of parent will he be alone? Through it all, Bohlmeijer's bond with his wife remains strong -- even after she dies. He sustains a very powerful connection to this angel who is new, nurtures a love that is stronger than death.Bohlmeijer's story will touch anyone who has struggled with tradegy and sorrow. Itbalances great sadness with great joy, the grief of death with love, hope, and the triumphant richness of life. - from Amzon