Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.

Geraldine Brooks is both the narrator and central figure of the memoir, chronicling her experiences following the sudden death of her husband, writer Tony Horwitz. Rather than presenting a linear or sentimental grief narrative, Brooks offers an unflinching examination of her humanity, exposing herself as raw, conflicted, and endlessly searching for answers. Her candid reflections lay bare the intricate, disorienting realities of navigating sorrow, especially in the public eye. As a storyteller, Brooks transforms her personal agony into a universal meditation on love, memory, and the nuances of Processing Loss. Through her anecdotes and introspection, she explores the complex landscape of mourning. She revisits cherished memories and pores over Tony’s old journals, confronting the tangible and intangible burdens that accompany grief.

Brooks’s journey through loss unfolds across two distinct timelines: the immediate aftermath of Tony’s passing in 2019 and in 2021, when Brooks embarks on a solitary pilgrimage to Flinders Island. In the 2019 chapters, she describes how she navigated the crushing emotional weight of loss while simultaneously managing the grief of friends and family.