The Goodbye Process: Stories

I just finished reading, The Goodbye Process by Mary Jones. I was amazed by this author's ability to convey so much emotion and capture complex psychological concepts in such a creative and meaningful way, sometimes in just two pages! I truly loved these stories. There were a couple I enjoyed so much, especially my personal favorite, "Tell Me Something New" I read them out loud to my husband and teenage children. I laughed out loud, I cried, and I was shocked at times by the unexpected twists and symbolism she used. I'm an avid reader and have never come across stories like, "Burglary", "From the Outside In", or "In the Moments of Silence." These were so thought provoking I read them twice. Mary Jones's stories express an inner wisdom in a compassionate, witty, and sometimes poetic style that makes her stories surreal at times. I feel like she deeply understands the intricacies of the human psyche which enables her to reveal the inner thoughts of her characters in a very raw and real way. I want to know what happens next in many of the characters lives. I was tempted to read the entire book in a few days, but once I realized what a gem this collection was...how deep, meaningful, and beautiful each story was, I decided to savor it and read a couple per day to let each one sink in.

The concept of goodbyes. It seems so sad, yes, but also a chance to meet again. These lovely short stories revolve around various leavings, from loss to the unimaginable, love, and, always, the change that comes along with it.Filled with quotes so urgent, stories that make you feel like you’re a fly on the wall, a tender one that struck a chord complete with sensory awareness so sharp, others with little details making them so twinkly and memorable. It’s hard to pick favorites, but here I go, it’s Tell Me Something New.

Hold onto your hearts with this short story collection: The Goodbye Process by Mary Jones This is a book about goodbyes: to seasons of life, to relationships, to earlier versions of ourselves and much, much more. Raw and real, honest and deep and sometimes even darkly funny, this book will make you feel all the feels, right from the shocker of the first story. As a bookologist, it’s the perfect collection of stories to have in my bookish toolbox to share with clients looking for the perfect story to grow through what they’re going through.

3-1/2 STAR REVIEWWith all the different ways to say goodbye, author Mary Jones compiles a variety of short stories in The Goodbye Process.Whether it’s the collapse of a marriage, a farewell between two childhood friends, or a person’s last breath, the process of communicating the end differs.The author uses a diverse set of stories from different perspectives, delivering close to 30 examples. Some are more light-hearted than others, but they all pack a sense of unpredictability.While there’s nothing inherently wrong with the author’s writing style, the collection of stories didn’t seem as cohesive as I’d expected.The Goodbye Process delivers selections focusing on love and loss through a variety of characters. ~ Amy for Novels Alive

I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of short stories that though different, were woven beautifully together. Jones showcases her creativity in the various stories. I was very impressed by her knowledge and her way of presenting experiences to the reader that felt very firsthand. I felt emotional reading about the heartbreak and loss of some, as well as scared and angry while reading other stories. I flew through the book!

Bravo to Mary Jones for the exquisite writing in The Goodbye Process. I enjoyed the flow from one piece to the next, making this a book of stories I will remember for a long time.