Those They Left Behind: Interviews, Stories, Essays and Poems by Survivors of Suicide

By: Karen Mueller Bryson

Narrated by: Christine Blackburn

Length: 11 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this collection of interviews with survivors of suicide, individuals talk candidly and intimately about how their lives have been impacted by the suicide of a family member or close friend. Over 50 individuals were willing to share their personal tragedies as a way of helping others who face a similar loss as well as educating the public about the issues survivors of suicide face. Their willingness to share their stories is a testament to their endurance and strength in the face of adversity.

©2013 Karen Mueller Bryson (P)2013 Karen Mueller Bryson

A Worthwhile Listen

I think this book is a worthwhile listen for anyone who has been left reeling from a loved one's suicide. The best thing about it is that the stories come directly from 50 people who have experienced suicide loss. There is no agenda. Everyone is asked the same questions and their answers are recorded. The narrator's voice inflections are a bit distracting but I found it very helpful to just hear how others coped with the horror of suicide. The one constant is that we are all left with questions that will never be answered, we all suffer from guilt that is undeserved, and we all just have to find a way forward one step at a time. There are no answers or guaranteed formulas for how to go on living without our lost loved ones. I listened to all 50 stories and it helped me.

#SilenceTheStigma

I lost my only sibling to suicide in March of 2007; my older brother. I lost a grandfather back in 1976 when he took his own life. I found the narration to skip/repeat in several sections, but other than that, it was a very well-organized and poignantly honest rendering of a too often avoided "taboo" topic. I am glad I chose to add it to my ever expanding Audible Digital library.📖👀📚

Informative and helpful

Would you listen to Those They Left Behind: Interviews, Stories, Essays and Poems by Survivors of Suicide again? Why?

Yes, It has helped me answer some of the questions of my fathers suicide

Who was your favorite character and why?

N/A

Would you listen to another book narrated by Christine Blackburn?

Maybe, the narration was pretty flat, almost seemed computer generated.

What did you learn from Those They Left Behind: Interviews, Stories, Essays and Poems by Survivors of Suicide that you would use in your daily life?

That i am not alone, Suicide loss is a very different kind of loss.

Any additional comments?

Very helpful in coping with a loved ones suicide.

Really needed resource, with a heavy 'but...'

This is a great resource for anyone looking for comfort whom has lost someone to suicide, for professionals wanting to understand suicide and the stories behind those affected and makes for great honest case studies for those setting up support groups.

Sadly there's *so little* diversity and is too heavy handed in its Christian approach. This can be a major turn off for those who don't fit in to a middle class, conservative, Christian box and at times I just couldn't remotely relate.

That said, it's still a great resource, but needs much better editing as it skips and repeats sentences often.