The Light of the World

A Memoir

By: Elizabeth Alexander

Narrated by: Elizabeth Alexander

A deeply resonant memoir for anyone who has loved and lost, from acclaimed poet and Pulitzer Prize finalist Elizabeth Alexander.

In The Light of the World, Elizabeth Alexander finds herself at an existential crossroads after the sudden death of her husband. Channeling her poetic sensibilities into a rich, lucid price, Alexander tells a love story that is, itself, a story of loss. As she reflects on the beauty of her married life, the trauma resulting from her husband's death, and the solace found in caring for her two teenage sons, Alexander universalizes a very personal quest for meaning and acceptance in the wake of loss.
The Light of the World is at once an endlessly compelling memoir and a deeply felt meditation on the blessings of love, family, art, and community. It is also a lyrical celebration of a life well-lived and a paean to the priceless gift of human companionship. For those who have loved and lost, or for anyone who cares what matters most, The Light of the World is required reading.

Balance of pain and beauty

This memoir was exquisite. She writes the details of her love, and his love of her, with language I had not yet been exposed to. An honor to journey this loss with the author and her sons.

A Narrative About Love

I am ashamed to say that when I first started listening to this book, I thought the verbiage pretentious. I almost quit listening to it, and probably would have if it weren't for my book club. Thank goodness I persevered! This book, although written differently than the books I am used to reading, is basically about the language of love. It is about finding love that is both tangible and intangible, in all of its forms, only to realize that you had it all along. A big thank you to the author for sharing this part of her life. It was truly a gift to read.

Poetry

At first I thought it was strange that she didn’t seem incredibly emotional when reading, but once I realized she was a poet and it was written poetically, I really enjoyed the book. It was interesting to learn a different culture and hear her life experience.

Beautiful memoir

Elizabeth Alexander has wrote a lovely and lyrical tribute to her husband and to love. Such a generous book, beautifully read.

Elegantly descriptive

When responsibility is the rusted on you when not requested, you either run for the hills or accept it with all your strength. The author describes her life and the lives around her that were touched by a man taken from her far too soon. But it's more than I love story, it's a story that describes how sometimes we don't know we the strength to lead when we actually do. One notable part that I truly enjoyed was mid book when Alexander actually counted the things that occurred and that she and her husband did while they were together. The number of homes, the number of nannies, the number of holidays. Simply breathtaking.