Kindle Edition Amazon Barnes & Noble Category:  Inspirational Publisher: Author Reputation Press ISBN-10:  1951727916 Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 75 Copyright: 03/13/2020 ISBN-13: 9781951727918 Price: $3.99 (eBook) When Half of Your Heart Dies is a poignant account of a mother with a broken heart and my struggle to remain faithful while also praying for closure through the capture of my son's killer. This is a story of a loving, christian mother who has suff ered the greatest loss of all ; the loss of her child. Her youngest son Darian was shot and killed as he and friends were leaving a social club in the city of Buff alo, New York. She was the product of God-fearing parents who taught her about the love of God and the power of prayer at an early age. Despite her upbringing, and the spiritual teachings of her parents, she began to falter in her faith and became angry at God for allowing the death of her son. Th is is a poignant account of a mother with a broken heart and her strugg le to remain faithful through it all while also praying for closure through the capture of her sons’ killer.

AuthorDen Review by Molly Martin
Author Gloria Clark presents a narrative filled with pain, hurt and wonder as she tells of her early upbringing, raised by faithful church going parents. She tells of her marriage, and children.

Opening with a touching, tender poem written in 1985 by Darian when her son Darian was thirteen.

“Darian’s life was taken on July 1, 2000 at the age of twenty-eight by someone who apparently had no idea of the pain his actions would inflict on his family. This is his story!’

Interspersed with the storyline are typical family type photos taken by a loving parent. The Reader is offered opportunity to see Darian grow from baby to young man, and dad to his own little girl.

I found Writer Clark’s musing type reminisces to be especially moving.

She suffered the grief most parents, fear at one time or another; that late-night telephone call. However most of us fear but do not actually receive. And when that call came, she learned the awful truth that parents are not supposed to have to bury a child.

There is no Table of Contents, and, no index. This is the heartfelt reflections of a broken-hearted woman as she searches to make sense of the incomprehensible. It is a narrative that, with time, becomes more understandable, more explainable regarding the shooting of her son by a stranger.

The hope Writer Clark came in time, to realize is part of the healing process.

Now and again another poem, written by the author, puts into focus how the bereaved Mother finally found peace and moved forward in her life.

‘When Half of Your Heart Dies’ notes “My faith was being tested”.

It was in the morning, Saturday July 1, 2000 when she received the call that she says has changed her life drastically and forever.

‘Now There is One’ this poem notes ‘You were the second of two sons which God sent me a short time ago.’ Darian and his brother Doug were the children Writer Clark raised from infancy to young adults.

From telling the awful news to family and friends, funeral of her second child, work with a grief counselor, the burial of Darian, emptying his apartment, time with Darian’s Daughter and with Doug’s, apprehension and trial of the shooter, and words much as are found in the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes ‘A time to weep and a time to laugh…” Writer Clark shares the intimate details of a distressed mother who has once again been able to lean on her faith and believes the death of Darian was a part of God’s plan.

I cannot say I enjoyed reading Gloria Clark’s ‘When Half of Your Heart Dies,’ it is not a tale to enjoy. It IS a well thought out work filled with optimism, expectation and hope.

Happy to recommend for grief counselors, church pastors who often take the role of grief counselor, and lay persons who may find themselves in the position to ‘be there’ during a sad and trying time for a relative, friend, co worker or other person who may be suffering what seems to be suffering overpowering grief.

I do not keep all the books I receive for review; this is one I will keep.

Available Kindle paperback


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Reviewed by: MOLLY’S REVIEWS molly martin
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http://www.AuthorsDen.com/mjhollingshead

http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mollymartin



35+ years classroom teacher


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AMAZON BIOGRAPHY Gloria Clark was born in 1945 in Lackawanna, NY which is located in Erie County just south of the city of Buffalo in the Western part of New York State. Gloria is a retired bookkeeper who enjoys spending quality time with her family, especially her two granddaughters. Her fi rst book entitled Th e Little Candy Breathing Dragons which was inspired by her granddaughters, was published in 2008. She was the proud mother of two sons and lived a happy, fruitful life until the summer of 2000 when her whole life changed-forever!