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Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Song of the Cardinal by Cynthia Waine Brandt is one of the best memoirs I have read in many years, handling loss and grief with a unique beauty of prose and ingenuity of thought. The author narrates her journey through grief after the sudden loss of her beloved husband, Harry. The book chronicles her emotional rollercoaster, from shock and guilt to divine encounters and miraculous signs, all intertwined with heartfelt stories, reflections, and spiritual insights. Brandt shares intimate details of her darkest moments, her search for meaning, and her eventual acceptance of love and connection beyond death. Through her honest storytelling, she explores themes of love, loss, faith, and the power of hope, showing how miracles and magic can emerge from heartbreak when one is willing to open their heart to the divine.
Cynthia Waine Brandt writes about her grief with remarkable clarity and honesty. She conveys the raw, complex emotions that are a part of mourning with intelligence and nuance. Her detailed recounting of moments—such as her internal screams, the divine signs like cardinals and sunrises, and her spontaneous spiritual experiences—fascinated me. I loved how she writes about her feelings of guilt and helplessness, capturing her internal dialogues vividly. The journey from blame to healing is remarkable, marked by encounters and communication with the mysterious Bedford, who offers spiritual guidance and support. Song of the Cardinal effectively blends candid emotion and poetic imagery to deliver a soul-stirring message, a universal experience in language that captivates. This author changes grief from a moment of pain into an instrument of personal transformation, a companion in a place that reflects light and love.
