Ten top books on grieving

Helen Humphreys is the author of four books of poetry, six novels, and two works of creative non-fiction. Her most recent work of non-fiction is Nocturne (2013), a memoir about the life and death of her brother, Martin.

One entry from her top ten list of "writing that best reflects, and consoles, the experience of loss," as told to the Guardian:

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Published when Shelley was barely into her twenties, this story of a monster who cannot be controlled by his maker has grief at its heart. There is the grief felt by Victor Frankenstein for creating such a brutal creature, one which murders his own brother; and the raw grief of the monster who cannot find love or acceptance, and whose very nature betrays him and condemns him to a life of lonely isolation.

Read about another novel on the list.

Frankenstein is among John Mullan's ten best honeymoons in literature, Adam Roberts's five top science fiction classics and Andrew Crumey's top ten novels that predicted the future.

--Marshal Zeringue