Reading a book that attempts to make sense of your experience and alters your perspective in a positive way is already a great gift in itself. This is one of the biggest reasons why books often make meaningful gifts.
As a sympathy gift, however, books rarely come across as a good suggestion. Some people would still opt to give flowers, cards, or memorial jewelry as remembrance tokens. Despite this, there is no reason why books should not be included in your sympathy gift package.
Whether in the form of a fictional work — such as a novel or poetry collection — or a practical self-help resource, books can help heal a broken heart or a grieving soul.
Can You Really Give Books as Sympathy Gifts?
Definitely, books are one of the most practical and meaningful sympathy gifts you can give to anyone in grief. With books, you are giving them the gift of reading and the time to be alone with their thoughts. Whether your bereaved friend is staying at home to cope with his or her loss, or traveling somewhere for helpful distraction, bringing a book with them is easy and practical.
You have the option to give a book as a standalone gift or as part of a sympathy care package. For example, you can wrap a book, a box of tea, and some scented candles together in one gift. To give your gesture a more personalized touch, you can pen a message in a card and add it to your book gift.
Book Titles You Can Offer to a Bereaved Colleague or Friend
If you have no idea which books to give as a memorial token, the following list can be helpful. Some titles can be specific, dealing with a particular type of loss. Other titles are better suited to a specific period in the grief and healing journey.
- A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis, known for his Narnia fantasy novels, speaks about losing his wife to cancer in this book. His descriptions of the death of a loved one as an “amputation” and of grief as a state of slight drunkenness are sure to resonate in the minds and hearts of the bereaved.
- The Elephant in the Room: A Children’s Book for Grief and Loss by Amanda Edwards
This book is a helpful sympathy gift for children who are trying to deal with loss and grief for the first time. The book not only has a powerful narrative, it also comes with poignant rhymes and artistic illustrations.
- About What Was Lost: Twenty Writers on Miscarriage, Healing, and Hope by Jessica Berger Gross
What this book can accomplish is to ease the alienating emotions that women may go through after a miscarriage. With twenty writers sharing their own journey towards healing, this book can be a great companion on the path to acceptance and recovery.
- Remembering with Love: Messages of Hope for the First Year of Grieving and Beyond by Elizabeth Levang and Sherokee Ilse
With three hundred entries of stories and messages intended for anyone going through their first year of bereavement, this book can prove to be a valuable guide in surviving the first twelve months following a life-changing loss.
Visit the Comfort Company to Find Sympathy Care Packages and Books for the Grieving Heart
If you need to find books on healing, you can check out some of the selections offered at the Comfort Company. Our sympathy care packages come with books that deal with the death of a loved one and the grieving process that inevitably follows.
You can also find an array of sympathy gifts — from cremation jewelry to memorial stones and religious items — at our site. To get to know more about what the Comfort Company can offer you, click here.