‘Grief became my brand’: Freya Bromley on writing about personal tragedy
Touring her memoir and talking to others helped the author come to terms with her brother’s death, but the book’s success left her feeling guilty. Had she commodified her family’s pain?
TL;DR
- The author initially coped with her brother's death by pretending and imitating normality, feeling like a ghost in her own life.
- Her memoir, 'The Tidal Year,' about swimming in tidal pools, became a way to process loss and find joy after tragedy, resonating with readers who shared their own intimate experiences.
- She found power in acknowledging pain through words but felt pressure to respond wisely, learning that listening was more impactful than speaking.
- The success of her book led to guilt about commodifying her family's tragedy, making her feel she needed redemption.
- She realized that people grieving often miss not just the person, but also the version of themselves that existed before the loss.
- The author believes we don't 'move on' from grief but 'move through' it, carrying the weight of stories, which feels lighter through shared conversations.
- She continues to engage with others by asking them about the person they are missing, allowing them to say their name again.