THE FINE ART OF GRIEVING: A Memoir
by author-artist Jane Edberg
is an illustrated memoir about an artist who has lost her son and how she uses art performance and photography to create an unconventional pathway through grief to a stronger, wiser self, and a life worth living.
Written in lyrical prose, Jane explores resilience, transformation of self, and the power of art to process meaning from loss—she also takes the reader on a deep dive into an artist’s imagination as she journeys through unconscious grieving to grieving with intent.
Jane leaned into grief compelled to explore and process of her loss with a wild mind, like an animal mother who smells, tastes, touches, and repositions her lifeless offspring. The train tracks where her son died, his ashes, his belongings, their photographs, flowers, the places they loved, became her materials. Jane’s camera served as a tool for documentation, and self-observation.
The creative process has informed Jane about death, loss, and put her in touch with her new relationship to Nanda, to who she was, who they were, and who she is now.
Excerpts from The Fine Art of Grieving:
“Grief is an unstoppable train.”
“Through the floor, a distant quaking of steel rolling across rails announced an approaching train. We both stopped silent as a thump-clatter trembled the house. Outside the window, above the fence line, a blur of boxcars sped by, screeching. A horn blasted. We looked at each other, shoulders to our ears. The horn blasted again. I shut my eyes and threw my head side to side. Can art be made after losing a child? Will art save me from this grief?”
TESTIMONIES
“The Fine Art of Grieving is a strong brave book about the hell a person can go through and survive. I am deeply impressed and inspired by Jane Edberg’s writing and her actions and her determination and her art.”
- Abigail Thomas, author of Still Life at Eighty: The Next Interesting Thing
“The Fine Art of Grieving is unique in the world of books. Its deep and brilliant exploration of loss and recovery is heightened in beauty and illumination by wondrous, accompanying photographs.”
- Marion Roach Smith, author of The Memoir Project: A Thoroughly Non-Standardized Text for Writing & Life
“Grief is not just an emotion, but a rupture in life that never fully heals and yet creates positive transformations. You can’t reason it away, and yet art can take it to a place where you can reflect on it in your heart. Jane Edberg shows you in beautiful language and visual art how to apply a healing alchemy when tragedy visits you. Reading her story may help you live through and beyond whatever challenges life offers you.”
- Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul and Soul Therapy
"The Fine Art of Grieving is the most honest, profound, beautifully written, and shockingly illustrated account of the grieving process I’ve ever witnessed. Absolutely brilliant! I cannot find the words to match this artist's, mother’s riveting memoir. I have served fifty years researching and writing about the arts and humanities to promote death education for medical personnel and the general public. Jane’s memoir says so much more about grief than all my “colleague experts.” Even for the most experienced therapists among us, her memoir should be required reading for professionals in the field of dying, death, and bereavement. More importantly, her book is a must read for anyone, as we will all, at some point, experience traumatic loss and grief. Jane’s words and images offer us hope as she leads us through a transformative healing process.” - Sandra Bertman, PhD, Fellow in Thanatology, author of Facing Death: images, Insights, and Interventions; Grief and the Healing Arts: Creativity as Therapy
“Jane’s approach to processing grief, both through her art and writing, is beautiful and harrowing. The rawness of emotion and the intentionality of how this story is told provides the reader a unique experience that all stories of grief should strive for: a chance for us to sit with sadness that also confronts the strangely personal ways grief consumes us.”
- Nathan Shuherk, TikTok-booktok Influencer, @schizophrenicreads
EDITORIAL REVIEW - Rating: 5 Stars
In The Fine Art of Grieving, Jane Edberg guides readers through the deeply emotional
landscape of mourning her son Nanda's untimely death. Through evocative vignettes,
Edberg captures the profound depths of maternal grief, using photography and various art
forms to navigate her emotions and memories. The narrative seamlessly intertwines past
and present, illustrating moments with her family and her solitary struggles with loss. This
culminates in a powerful exploration of personal transformation and acceptance.
Edberg’s The Fine Art of Grieving is a moving exploration of a grieving mother's journey.
One of the book's most compelling aspects is Edberg’s use of art as a means to process her
grief. Her vivid descriptions of photography sessions, art installations, and spontaneous
artistic creations offer a unique and engaging framework for understanding her experience.
This artistic lens not only enriches the narrative but also highlights the transformative power
of creativity in the face of profound loss. While the book's emotional intensity and detailed
grief rituals powerfully enhance its authenticity, I feel some readers might find these
aspects deeply resonant and immersive. For those experiencing similar losses, these
elements may evoke a sense of connection, underscoring Edberg's genuine and heartfelt
portrayal of her mourning process.
The varied settings—from the intimacy of the family home to the expansiveness of natural
landscapes—serve as poignant backdrops that echo the themes of life, death, and rebirth.
Supporting characters like Rachel, Roger, and the friends who participate in Edberg’s art
projects add depth to the narrative, underscoring the importance of community and shared
experiences in the grieving process.
The Fine Art of Grieving is a beautifully raw and inspiring work. Edberg’s heartfelt prose and
innovative use of art make this a significant read for those interested in the impact of grief
and the cathartic power of creativity. Her courageous exploration of pain stands as a
testament to the enduring strength of love.
April Pulliam
Assistant Editor
Literary Titan