A BOY FROM LAWRENCE Connolly Associates Category:  Memoir Publisher: Connolly Associates Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 148 Copyright: December 28, 2007 ISBN-13: 9780977265329 Becoming single once again leads to an informative and entertaining journal of healing. A journal of healing blends pop culture and social research into reflections about the present and past. The majority of women in the United States are living without a spouse, and for many, being single is a return to a status given up long ago. Sally A. Connolly, a former school counselor and teacher, was thrust into widowhood—and living single—by the loss of her husband of thirty-seven years to brain cancer. In order to cope, Connolly turned to writing, and her recently published book, Never Better: All Things Considered, chronicles the first two years of her journey toward healing. In a series of essays, Connolly weaves the past and the present into reflections about pop culture, social research, and new events. Her writings show how, with the help of family and faith, a newfound outlet can help life can begin again. Marie Cassidy, director of the Medford Family Network, says that “Never Better is an inspiring look at the transition from loss to renewal. We are both enlightened and entertained as we join the author on her journey to new life.” More information is available on the author’s website, www.neverbetter.net.   _______________________________ This personal collection of essays and opinions provides insight into the author’s life transitions. After a long and happy marriage, Sally Connolly encounters the sudden realization of life without her soul mate, partner and best friend. Through her writing, she is able to deal with loss and a renewed spirit.    This is very much a terrific self-help book for those who may be experiencing similar loss. The writing is thoughtful, insightful and honest. In some ways the book is reminiscent in style to Andre Dubus’ Meditations from a Movable Chair. — Dogdayspress   This book is a perfect companion piece to her first book, A BOY FROM LAWRENCE: The Collected Writings of Eugene F. Connolly, which was reviewed here on MyShelf. Each entry is a look inside the experiences of Sally’s emotional roller coaster, and bestows a touch of divine grace to the reader….In the writing of this work, Ms. Connolly gives our feelings and emotions validity, and allows us, through her experiences, to know that we are not alone in life, grief and sorrow. That along is worth the price of admission! ENJOY! — Laura Stratham Hulka, Myshelf.com

Willie Elliott, reviewer, MyShelf.com
This is an easy and pleasant book to read....The well-crafted essays [show] the liberation of a soul from the pangs and sorrows of losing a loving spouse.
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Midwest Book Review
The end of a marriage of nearly four decades--the crushing reality of becoming a widow. "Never Better: All Things Considered" is Sally Connolly's attempt to cope with the loss of her true soul mate and trying to move on after this event which effects all too many women and simply seems to be a fact of life that must be dealt with. A dive into her own psyche, "Never Better: All Things Considered" is deftly written and highly recommended for self-help collections and for any woman who has lost their husband.

Writer's Digest
The author does a wonderful job of intertwining the journal entries into the narrative to seamlessly tell her story....At times the reader feels as is he/she is sitting next o the author and working through the grief of loss together. By the end of the book, the reader feels as if the author is a good and trusted friend and it is a shame that their time together has come to an end.