Good Grief (2004) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Characters/People edit see section history

• Sophie Enid Stanton: A widow in her thirties who lost her husband to cancer
• Ethan Stanton: Sophie's husband, who died before the book began
• Sophie Stanton: Narrator/main character. Recently widowed 36-year-old woman.
• Marion Stanton: Sophie's mother-in-law
• Crystal: Sophie's mentee from Big Brothers/Big Sisters
• Ethan: Sophie's husband who died of cancer
• Ruth: Sophie's friend and college roommate
• Drew Ellis: An actor Sophie dates.
• Marion: Sophie's mother-in-law
• Kit Whittaker: Sophie's real estate agent in Oregon
• Jill: Sophie's father's second wife
• Roxanne: Crystal's mother
• Lara: Add a description of this character.
• Melanie
• Tony: Ruth's boyfriend
• Dr. Rupert: Sophie's therapist
• Steve
• Simone: Ruth's two-year-old daughter
• Sandy: Leader of the grief group in Oregon
• Marjorie Bison: Food critic
• Roger
• Bill: Sophie's boss at Le Petit Bistro
• Mark: Ruth's ex-husband
• Cranson
• Tiffanie
• Charles
• Gloria: Sophie's grief partner
• Chef Alan: Chef at Le Petit Bistro
• Charlie
• Jolene
• Jasper

Quotes edit see section history

• “This is my least favorite thing about being thirty-six and single-- when your only choice is to hit movies and restaurants alone or stay home with your Lean Cuisine and remote control. You tell yourself you should appreciate this "me time." You take a bubble bath, just as the magazines tell you to, then curl up with one fo the books you've been meaning to read, reminding yourself: This is relaxing! But you can't concentrate. Your brain skitters around ilke a squirrel in the road, wondering: Will I ever find someone? Will I ever get to watch a daughter or son walk down the aisle? Will I even have a date this New Year's Eve?”

  Sophie

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• You can’t get in a train wreck if you don’t board the train. But how can I live happily ever after without loving someone again? How can I love someone again without granting him the power to crush me?

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• “I’ve decided it’s important to love the life you get and somehow learn to let go of the life you dreamed of.”

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• The grief is up already. It is an early riser, waiting with its gummy arms wrapped around my neck, its hot, sour breath in my ear. Now it follows me down the hall to the bathroom, tapping my shoulder the whole way. Try to pick up your toothbrush, it says.

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• Is there anyone less essential in the world than an unemployed widow without children?

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• Sometimes you want to turn back the clock so far that it seems you’d have to go all the way back to second grade to fix everything.

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• I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid of everyone else dying and leaving me behind.

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• Maybe she needs me to be her basket case. Just as sometimes you need a person to be strong for you, maybe sometimes you need a person to be weak for you. Maybe I am to Marion what Cops is to me. Kooky screwups who help you tell yourself: Hell, I could be worse.

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• air-conditioning run? How could there be mail in the box? The relentless soldiering on of the world hurt my feelings.

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• The prospect of needing Drew scares me; I don’t think I need him the way you need a vitamin or a good night’s sleep. I’m afraid I need him the way you need a cigarette or a drink. Besides, I don’t want to be engaged right now. I don’t even

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• What I really want is some sort of “It’s okay, I’m here” sign from Ethan. The worst part about grief is that it’s so one-sided, so unrequited. Lost loved ones don’t reciprocate, when you get right down to it. You try to convince yourself that they do. But Ethan hurts me every

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Ashland, Oregon
• Silicon Valley, California

Organizations edit see section history

• Big Brothers Big Sisters: An organization that pairs troubled children with adult mentors

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Dealing with Grief and Loss: Describe this theme.

Series & Lists edit see section history

Preceded by Sophie's Bakery for the Broken Hearted.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Lolly Winston (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: PS3623.I667G66 2004
• Dewey: 813

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Add a note to help parents select a book for a child.

More Books Like This edit see section history