The Stones, the Crows, the Grass, the Moon

Missing collection

By: Walter Kirn

Narrated by: Walter Kirn

Length: 1 hr and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

The New York Times bestselling author of Up in the Air and Blood Will Out embarks on a journey that begins with the death of his beloved mother - and ends in an inexplicable spiritual awakening.

After the utter grief of taking his mother off life support, Walter Kirn is compelled to understand his recurring visions of a Native American holy site. With his children and girlfriend, he follows them. In opening himself up to the mysticism he sees in religion, music, and nature, Walter discovers something magical and transcendent: solidarity and solace in the world around him.

Walter Kirn’s The Stones, the Crows, the Grass, the Moon is part of Missing, a collection of six true stories about finding, restoring, or accepting the losses that define our lives - from the mysterious to the inspiring. Each story can be listened to in a single sitting.

©2018 Walter Kirn (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing Inc., all rights reserved.

The Stones, the Crows, the Grass, the Moon

I’m not sure what I expected when choosing to read this short story but by it’s ending, I found tears streaming warm down my cheeks. I found the words touched my soul & sounding familiar personally. I considered the message to be very thought provoking & reinforcing my own feelings that we are all connected. I’m glad I chose to read it.

Fantastic!

Great story line, and keeps you interested right from page one. You can feel the emotion of his mother passing, and how her spirit stays with him, through the "messengers". Some parts gave me goosebumps! Narration was so easy to listen to, absolutely loved the whole thing. Great writing!

Hm

I just wasn’t as invested in this book as the others. It was the same with the last promoted group of books. There just seems to be one I can’t get into, and this was it.

The crow and a death

I have always felt the ravens held me in their hearts , as I held them in mine.

Needed More of Something

I didn't hate it, but it didn't stick with me either. There were a few good parts to the story, but some things needed to be tied together. There were a few parts I thought were disconnected to the story. Message was good though. I think this is subjective to the "reader". Just not my taste.

Arresting and completely believable

Thanks for writing and reading such an intimate and thoughtful series of essays. Quite beautiful.

Not for me

The story is well-told, but it didn't speak to me. I listened all the way to the end since it was so short, but felt lukewarm through the whole thing. The author tells a touching story about the unexpected loss of his mother and his communications with her afterward (related to cross, as you might guess from the title), but somehow it just didn't land right for me.

I liked it but...

it was interesting enough. compelling during the first few chapters where he was talking about the internal conflicts that surrounded his mothers passing as well as the responsibility he pulled onto himself as the older son. it was loving yet still honest in the pain and to be frank sheer desire to be done with her whole passing which I dont blame him for. it all sounded very traumatic and im glad he was able to work through this as well as the few other issues that plagued him later on.

Nice

I struggle a little with the appropriation aspect, but I think this is a little older when we weren't as aware as we are now. Understanding and respecting Native American culture can bring such peace and help us move forward with our allyship. The story of grief and continued healing was real and heartbreaking. Thank you for sharing.

a mother's death & a son's life

loved it! Kirn engages the reader in the emotions following the death of a parent in a way that I found touching and true.