Wave Audiobook By Sonali Deraniyagala cover art

Wave

A Memoir

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Wave

By: Sonali Deraniyagala
Narrated by: Hannah Curtis
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About this listen

On the morning of December 26, 2004, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Sonali Deraniyagala lost her parents, her husband, and her two young sons in the tsunami she miraculously survived. In this brave and searingly frank memoir, she describes those first horrifying moments and her long journey since. She has written an engrossing, unsentimental, beautifully poised account: as she struggles through the first months following the tragedy, furiously clenched against a reality that she cannot face and cannot deny; and then, over the ensuing years, as she emerges reluctantly, slowly allowing her memory to take her back through the rich and joyous life she’s mourning, from her family’s home in London, to the birth of her children, to the year she met her English husband at Cambridge, to her childhood in Colombo; all the while learning the difficult balance between the almost unbearable reminders of her loss and the need to keep her family, somehow, still alive within her.

©2013 Sonali Deraniyagala (P)2013 Random House Audio
Memoir Essentials Natural Disasters Nature & Ecology Women Emotionally Gripping Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

"Out of unimaginable loss comes an unimaginably powerful book. Wave is unflinching as it charts the depths of grief, but it's also, miraculously, a beautifully detailed meditation on the essence of happiness. I came away from this stunning book with a new appreciation of life’s daily gifts. I urge you to read Wave. You will not be the same person after you've finished." (Will Schwalbe)
" Wave is a haunting chronicle of love and horrifying loss. The heartfelt writing manages to render the absence of the loved ones - the void, and the pain of it - in such a beautiful way that what was lost emerges as a new life form, one whose flesh and sinew are memory, sorrow, and undying love." (Abraham Verghese)

Featured Article: Comforting Audiobooks About Grief and Loss That Actually Help


When it comes to the death of a loved one, there is no easy path forward. Grieving can place significant mental strain on those who are mourning. And because everyone grieves a little differently, it can be hard to know where to turn for help, or what to say to someone who is in the throes of grief. Audiobooks on grief can offer insight to those looking for ways to support the mourning, or a bit of comfort for anyone struggling with loss themselves.

What listeners say about Wave

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Exquisite story of loss and acceptance

Beautifully written and moving story of a loss of a family, the darkness that follows, and the deep resilience of the human spirit to manage through. This book makes it on the list of the top 10 best books I've ever read. Dr. Sonali was one of my lecturers at SOAS and she inspired me then and continues to inspire me now. I couldn't stop crying in the end!

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A delicate balance.

How do you tell a story like this without overwhelming your reader. Ms. Deraniyagala uses a delicate balance of uninhibited honesty and an innate wisdom of just how much to tell. She does not hide from the unfairness in the world, even when the unfairness come from her own actions. This was a beautifully authentic book to read.

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Unremitting grief.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wave?

Although we all know it logically, Wave reminds us of how quickly life can change.

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review

it was disarmingly honest especially her relationship with alcohol and her stalking the people who moved into her house. I work as a grief counsellor and it was good to have seven years after a death spoken about.

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Heart wrenching yet so authentic

I listened to this book with apprehension as a mother, wife and human being. This is a beautifully written portrayal of family and grief . I will never forget the gift of this book.

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Not easy to tear myself away.

What did you love best about Wave?

Simple, declarative prose. The lector had a lovely, warm, wonderful voice, perfect for the task.

Any additional comments?

Difficult, painful account of recovering from the loss of closest family, children, parents, spouse. The experience of coming to terms with the places and ephemera associated with their lives. To flinch and turn away? And thereby continue a clenched life? or find a way to coexist and maybe tentatively embrace the visual and audible and gustatory reminders?
A very brave account.

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4 people found this helpful

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A memoir of great emotional depth

"healing in progress". She expresses her loss so intimately that the reader not only grieves with her, but also heals with her.

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2 people found this helpful

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Hard to read this very real story

This is a true story about the massive tidal wave and one woman's journey through devastating loss. Heartbreaking real story.

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Beautifully written heartrending tale

I would highly recommend this book.The story is expertly and poignantly narrated. What a courageous woman!

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I lost my only child & found this book helpful

Thank you to the author for sharing her story. I pray she is as well as she can be. I listened twice. My heart fell out of my chest so many times.

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