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    A Song for Issy Bradley
    A Song for Issy Bradley
    A Song for Issy Bradley
    Audiobook10 hours

    A Song for Issy Bradley

    Written by Carys Bray

    Narrated by Emma Gregory

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    A mesmerizing literary debut novel of doubt, faith, and perseverance in the aftermath of a family tragedy-for fans of Me Before You, Little Bee, and Tell the Wolves I'm Home. The Bradleys see the world as a place where miracles are possible, and where nothing is more important than family. This is their story. It is the story of Ian Bradley-husband, father, math teacher, and Mormon bishop-and his unshakeable belief that everything will turn out all right if he can only endure to the end, like the pioneers did. It is the story of his wife, Claire, her lonely wait for a sign from God, and her desperate need for life to pause while she comes to terms with tragedy. And it is the story of their children: sixteen-year-old Zippy, experiencing the throes of first love; cynical fourteen-year-old Al, who would rather play soccer than read the Book of Mormon; and seven-year-old Jacob, whose faith is bigger than a mustard seed-probably bigger than a toffee candy, he thinks-and which he's planning to use to mend his broken family with a miracle. Intensely moving, unexpectedly funny, and deeply observed, A Song for Issy Bradley explores the outer reaches of doubt and faith, and of a family trying to figure out how to carry on when the innermost workings of their world have broken apart. Praise for A Song for Issy Bradley "I loved A Song for Issy Bradley. It's wry, smart . . . moving and comforting. . . . A terrific book [about] faith, and what happens to that faith when the unimaginable happens."-Nick Hornby "In this wry, original, generous-spirited debut novel, members of a family come to terms with grief, each in his or her own way. They wrestle with belief and disillusionment, desire and hopelessness, pervasive sorrow and moments of transcendent joy. The result is riveting, powerful, and quietly devastating. Quite simply, A Song for Issy Bradley took my breath away."-Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train "A Song for Issy Bradley is that rarest of things-a book that is beautiful, tender, and a page-turner. Carys Bray made me fall hopelessly in love with each and every one of the Bradleys."-Carol Rifka Brunt, New York Times bestselling author of Tell the Wolves I'm Home "I cannot remember the last time I have felt so emotionally invested in a novel. It is brilliant and profoundly moving, utterly compelling and almost unbearably real."-Nathan Filer, author of The Shock of the Fall "Carys Bray is a strikingly original new voice in fiction. I loved this tender, moving, funny, and deeply truthful story about a family and a faith tested to the breaking point."-Helen Dunmore, author of The Lie and The Siege "I loved A Song for Issy Bradley. With courage, warmth, and intelligence, Carys Bray sweetly and subtly breaks your heart. It's an incredible debut."-Charlotte Mendelson, author of Almost English and When We Were Bad From the Hardcover edition.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJan 9, 2015
    ISBN9781490658155
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    Reviews for A Song for Issy Bradley

    3.5/5

    115 ratings41 reviews

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    • 4/5
      A poignant and heart wrenching tale of a family when a child dies. Claire, Ian, Al, Zippy and Jacob all deal with the death of Issy in their own way and this story explores that. All set against the background of the Mormon Church.A brilliant, if emotional read.BUT a disappointing ambiguous ending (it would have been 5 stars with a proper end)
    • 4/5
      This was a very interesting book for me. I enjoyed some aspects of the book: characters and plot line, but I just had a little trouble getting through the book.
    • 4/5
      This was a very interesting book for me. I enjoyed some aspects of the book: characters and plot line, but I just had a little trouble getting through the book.
    • 4/5
      A Song for Issy Bradley by Carys Bray is a beautifully rendered novel of heartbreak and hope, faith and despair, and joy and sorrow. A devastating loss takes an immeasurably toll on the Bradley family and each of them deal with the tragedy in different ways.

      The Bradley family is a deeply devout Mormon family whose life appears perfect on the surface. Ian, the patriarch of the family, has an unquestioning and blind faith in the religion he has devoted his life to. A newly ordained Bishop, he routinely puts service to his religious community above his family and with a full time job as a math instructor, he spends a great deal of his time away from home. Wife Claire is responsible for all matters pertaining to the home and their children, and while she is active in the church, she questions many of the precepts of her adopted religion. Oldest daughter Zippy complies with the teachings of the church but she has her doubts about some of the old fashioned values of her faith. Oldest son Al is the most skeptical of the children and he is in the beginning stages of rebellion against the strictures imposed on him by his father and the trappings of their religion. Seven year Jacob is achingly innocent, views the world around him in black and white and his faith is as unshakeable as his father's. Youngest daughter Issy is at the heart of the senseless tragedy that slowly begins to reveal the cracks that lurk below the family's seemingly perfect facade.

      In the aftermath of their loss, the family deals with their grief in different ways. Claire eventually checks out completely as she succumbs to a dark depression that leaves her incapable of taking care of herself, let alone her family. She is overwhelmed with guilt and incredibly angry at Ian but it is her lack of faith at the time she feels she needed it most that continues to haunt her. Ian's faith never wavers and in the face of doubt, he always has a scripture to backup his beliefs. He is at a loss at how to deal with Claire and his fears of disappointing the church lead him to fervently deny to himself and everyone around him that anything is wrong. It is very frustrating watching him continue to make religion his top priority while his family continues its downward spiral.

      The children have little emotional support from their parents and the older children are tasked with some of the day to day chores that Claire is no longer capable of completing. Ian insists on returning to their regular life immediately and the kids have no time to process their grief or their loss. Zippy continues with the religious training to prepare her for her future role as a wife but without her mother's guidance she is burdened and confused by the actions of the young man she yearns for. Al's disdain for the church worsens and his acts of rebellion take him down a sometimes dangerous path until he finds salvation from an unexpected source. Jacob's faith and conviction lead to unrealistic expectations and he is forced to learn that some miracles are just not meant to be.

      A Song for Issy Bradley is a realistic and compelling novel that is heartbreaking, poignant and ultimately, hopeful. The different viewpoints provide a thought-provoking look into the Mormon religion and what is expected from its members at various stages in their life. An overall moving story by Carys Bray that will touch your heart as the Bradley family finds their way back to one another after a heartrending loss.
    • 4/5
      I found this to be a pretty good book, dealing fairly with that bizarre phenomenon of Mormonism, which could only exist in America . . . and yet is set in England! What the story is all about is the way the Mormon practices and beliefs fail to address the realities of the world, and in particular the reality of grief on the death of a child. Further, the restrictive rules and guilt which is then felt from failure to keep those restrictions can only be destructive to relationships, and this is well demonstrated by Bray. Because the author grew up in a Mormon household, I presume this is an accurate representation of 21st century Mormonism, but in any case, there are surely plenty of people who live not dissimilar lives, oppressed by rules and controls that they willingly attempt to live by.
    • 4/5
      Ian is a Mormon bishop, married to Claire, who converted after she met him. They have three children and the youngest, Issy, dies of meningitis at the beginning of the story. Each of the characters grieves in their own way, but all of their behaviour and decisions are supposed to be regulated by their Mormon faith. I thought the first half of this novel was excellent. Zipporah's efforts to accommodate her attraction to Adam, whom she could only marry after his two years of mission was particularly well done and Adam's character generally was excellent. All the scenes at church where the girls were encouraged to plan their weddings and the boys played sports were appalling and fascinating. Ian's prioritizing the demands of his congregation over the needs of his family (as his own parents modelled) was heart-breaking. However, I couldn't really get to grips with Claire's decisions. Did she really accept everything about the Mormon faith so easily? Did she really want Zipporah to marry young and concentrate on the home and popping out babies? There were flashbacks to Claire not really wanting four children and she speaks out about repentance and forgiveness being more important than shaming, but on the whole she seemed determined to assimilate and accept the culture. Did she really love Ian (a man with no personality whatsoever) that much?I wanted there to be a less open ending. I wanted Ian to ask forgiveness for his neglect, thoughtlessness and focus on appearances rather than honesty. I wanted Zipporah to go off to university and have a fulfilling career and forget all about marriage. I wanted Al to change his name by deed poll and become a football player after all. I wanted Claire to say, "I should have checked on Issy more carefully earlier and then she might not have died, but you, Ian, left me in the lurch and I was busy making up for your broken promises to Jacob."
    • 5/5
      A Song for Issy Bradley by Carys Bray is a very highly recommended novel about a family experiencing a tragic death and how they all handle the aftermath.

      The Bradleys are an LDS (Mormon) family living in the UK. Parents Ian and Claire have four children: daughter Zippy is sixteen, son Al is fourteen, son Jacob is seven, and the youngest daughter is Issy. A Song for Issy Bradley opens on the morning of Jacob's seventh birthday. Claire is trying to get things ready for his party and has been promised help by Ian, but Ian is serving as a bishop for their church and rushes off to help one of the (many needy) church members who calls, leaving Claire to manage the shopping and the party alone. Issy has stayed in bed because she doesn't feel well, so Claire gives her something for her fever and tries to get everything ready for the party, hoping Issy will sleep and feel better afterwards. After the party, Ian is still gone and Issy is not up. Claire immediately realizes that something is wrong and they call for an ambulance. Issy is hospitalized, but dies from meningitis.

      Each member of the Bradley family tells their story and what they are thinking and experiencing during this picture of their lives during an especially trying and emotional time of their lives. Claire falls into a deep depression, sleeps in Issy's bed and neglects the rest of her family. Ian is like a cheerleader for the LDS church. He knows that there is something wrong but will not get Claire help, even as Zippy asks him to, because it's not what "we"do. Zippy is a teen girl dealing with her first crush, and guilt over the way her church handles any petting - it's always the girl's fault. Al just wants to play football, something his father is trying to prohibit. Jacob thinks if he has enough faith and prays right he can bring Issy back to life. And Ian just keeps following along with the LDS role of bishop, always going if anyone calls him, neglecting his family who really need him.

      I simply can't say enough good things about A Song for Issy Bradley. The writing is stunning, superb, superlative. The character development is outstanding. It's hard to believe that this is Bray's debut novel - it is that good. Now, the subject matter is hard... so hard. Parts of this novel will anger you, and with good reason: a child dies; a woman falls into a black hole of depression; a father tries to ignore it and hides the truth from people so no one will think there is anything wrong; a teenage girl is made to feel guilty and that petting with a young man is her fault, according to what her LDS church teaches; a young man is prohibited from pursuing his passion for football and doubts his faith; a young boy thinks he can pray his sister back to life.

      But even as you are indignant and brokenhearted over the abuse/misuse of faith, the family is presented with real empathy and compassion. Claire's questioning of her faith and falling into a depression is very easy to comprehend after the death of her child. Ian's reactions are harder for me to accept. His eagerness to please all the church members and put their needs and desires first while allowing his own family to suffer is unintelligible. Zippy is a great character and the guilt that she is burdened down with in the name of religion is awful.

      Carys Bray grew up in the Mormon church, so she knows her subject matter and infuses every bit of A Song for Issy Bradley with very realistic details of the daily life of an LDS family. The questioning of their beliefs and how women are treated/viewed are based on real facts and the inside knowledge lends an authenticity to the novel that is hard to ignore.

      One of the best books I've read this year!

      One quote took my breath away since I intimately know and have experienced this feeling when my sister passed away:
      "Zippy stared at Issy’s face; she didn’t look peaceful and she didn’t look asleep. She looked like a badly made model of herself, empty of all her Issy-ness. She looked really dead."

      Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Random House via Netgalley for review purposes.
    • 4/5
      While not for everyone (some might have a problem with the death of a young child), I really liked this book. The characters are memorable and well-drawn, each dealing with Issy's death and their Mormon faith in their own way.
    • 3/5
      I had a hard time getting into this book, which is not to say that once I did I didn't enjoy it. The story is essentially how the individual members of a Mormon family cope with the unexpected death of the youngest child. To me some of the most poignant and heartbreaking moments are actually in the early chapters as each family member goes about the mundane and sometime self-centered routines of their daily lives while little Issy begins to die alone and unnoticed in her bed.
    • 3/5
      At first glance, I assumed that I was not going to like this book. As another reader mentioned, I had to double check that this was actually a book I requested. Although I felt the book started out slowly, as I continued to read, I became more engaged with the characters and their stories. Some of the dialog from the youngest child felt forced at times, but overall I enjoyed this book. If you stick with it, you may find you like it more than you thought by the end!
    • 4/5
      I liked this book so much more than I thought I would. After I read the first few pages, I went back to the original Early Reviewers description to see if was a book a really ordered! But as I got deeper into it, I became very engaged with the characters. I enjoyed hearing the perspective of the different family members. Some reviewers who did not like the book as much commented that not much happens. I disagree. This is a family that becomes undone by tragedy and yet perseveres and grows both individually and together as a family. I learned a lot and really enjoyed it.
    • 4/5
      Written by a woman who has left the Mormon Church, I am sure this story is tinged with her own emotions. Set in England, the novel revolves around a Morman family and their reeling from the death of one of the children. The father, a bishop in the church, spends much of his time dealing with church issues. Mom, who was raised in a non-LDS church, finds the church stifling and unresponsive to her needs as she grieves. In fact the family covers her withdrawal from daily life, as she huddles in her dead daughter’s bed. The two teenaged children struggle with strictures placed on them by the church. The youngest elementary aged brother is confused as there is little time or patience for him. At the end of the book, there is hope, yet the tragedy remains a central force in the family. I would love to hear what a member of the LDS church has to say about this book. The church was not portrayed as a caring community.
    • 4/5
      A Song For Issy Bradley is a novel about religion, death and moving on. The book focuses on the Bradley family as they deal with the loss of one of there own. The chapters jump in and out of a third person view of each family member as their faith and sanity is tested. It is especially hard for all of them considering the father is a Mormon minister who becomes obsessed with his church even as his family falls apart all around him. The writing was great in this exploratory novel.
    • 4/5
      A Song for Issy Bradley is a truly remarkable book. The characters are engaging. The story is tender and compelling. This is one of those books that is difficult to put down. As far as content and scope, it reminds me considerably of Oates’ We Were the Mulvaneys; there is that same sense of tragedy thrown at an unsuspecting family. As far as tone, ...Issy Bradley reminds me of Tell the Wolves I’m Home; there is a similar mix of joy and sorrow, hope and loss, naivety and strength. This novel is surprisingly funny at times, and even more surprisingly eloquent when it seems the writer may be bordering Hallmark-style fluff. Readers of moving family dramas will likely enjoy this one.The tragedy that strikes the Bradley family is devastating. The way each of the characters copes with the tragedy and each of the following events is a large part of what makes this book so compelling. The fact that the Bradleys are a Mormon family is one of the novel’s greatest strengths and weaknesses. On a positive side, it makes for some wonderful drama; each of the characters is pulled into a battle with the community, the church, the family, and with themselves. This drama has the potential to raise questions for the reader as it does for the characters. On the other side, it is clear that the author has a bone to pick with the LDS church. It is clear early on that she has set out to embarrass the church and its beliefs as much as possible without blatantly declaring war. I think Bray does an admirable job at times of restraining her attacks, but there are other times when her influence is perhaps too present in the narrative. I’m all for testing institutions of all kinds, but I think the key is subtlety. Bray could have posed the same questions without seeming insensitive. That being said, anyone of Mormon faith who is not open to debate and the exploration of so-called flaws in their religion will not want to read this book; there is no doubt in my mind you will hate it.A Song for Issy Bradley is another one of those sad family dramas that many of us love. But even for those who hate the genre there is much to enjoy: the structure, the characters, the passion. It is full of emotion, but some of that emotion may seem manipulative, especially in regards to the church. And it is because of this reason especially that not everyone will love this otherwise wonderful novel.
    • 3/5
      I won this as part of LibraryThing's early reviewers program. I am thankful for the opportunity.Let's see... This was an average read for me. I think the main problem I have with this book is how disconnected I felt from these characters. It is a definite story of loss, grieving, and "growing". It also felt rather "preachy", but I guess that is expected going into the book, as we do know up front that it is about a Mormon family. It wasn't an awful story, just not a favorite. But very glad to have won.
    • 4/5
      A young girl dies, and a Mormon family mourns her loss. I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this book. When it began, it felt like I was going to be indoctrinated into the teachings of the Mormon church. And although aspects of their doctrine are included, it eventually became a story about a family in crisis dealing with grief, each in his or her own way. Dealing with the child’s death also brings to the surface the question of whether or not the church’s teachings should be believed and when is faith misplaced.
    • 4/5
      This is the story of a family in a crisis of faith after the loss of a loved one. The fact that the family are Mormon adds a dimension to my reading because the author, who was herself raised as a Mormon, shares details which are informative about some of the Mormon traditions. However, I think this test of faith can occur for any person and that is what makes this novel so meaningful. I particularly like the treatment of all the children and the way this questioning takes developmentally accurate forms. The author subtly and tastefully calls into question some of the practices while never crossing into disrespect. I am not Mormon. I think this book can be understood in different ways, and I think that the reader's belief system prior to reading it will largely determine how they will walk away from it. I hope it was the author's intention for that to happen. Excellent debut!
    • 4/5
      Beautifully written and truly moving. This story of how each member of a close family struggles with the death of their youngest sibling and child felt very true to me. Bray uses shifting perspective to explore how the family's Mormon faith affects their reaction to Issy's death, which varies from the youngest boy's prayers for a miracle to the mother's extreme psychological distress. However, it's the fourteen year old son, Alma, known as Al, whose journey resonates the most for me. Recommended.
    • 4/5
      3.5 stars if Good reads would allow. I have a lot of Mormon friends and am interested in Mormon practice and history, so this story about a Mormon family who loses a little girl and wrestles with their faith was very interesting to me. I couldn't help but wonder if people who don't know anything about being Mormon would be a little mystified by this book, though. I don't know if the average reader knows what a big deal it would be to be released from your bishop calling, or to not practice Family Home Evening. I will look forward to reading more from this author.
    • 4/5
      As a mother, this book was a difficult read for me. It's always hard to imagine the grief of losing a child and I think that the author does a wonderful job of describing the many layers of the emotions.Not knowing much about the Mormon faith, I also found the book to be interesting in the descriptions about the faith and the edicts. The book shows each of the family members struggling with their grief and how they deal with it within the constraints of that faith. I thought many parts of the book were very beautiful, although it is a very sad read.Reader Received a complimentary copy for Library Thing Early Reviewers.
    • 4/5
      I found this novel a true glimpse into the Mormon faith and the inner struggles young members go through as they mature. It was so hard to feel the pain each member of the family was going through, trying to cope with the sudden loss of the youngest member of the family. I look forward to reading more from this author.
    • 5/5
      Beautifully written story of how the Bradley family copes following the loss of its youngest member, 4-year-old Issy. I loved the mixed perspectives of all the family members and how the stories weave together as the book culminates, forming a full view. Bishop Ian Bradley begins as a one-note Mormon witness, passing off verse and religious stories for every situation, but Ms. Bray redeems him into a real character as the book progresses. I didn't know much about the Mormon religion prior to reading this book, but Bray provides an overview that doesn't feel like a conversion tutorial. This is an empathetic story about loss and its handling, both by a church community — including the mishandling of information for children —, parents, and different-aged children. While the topic isn't a light one, Bray's gentle touch eases the reader through.
    • 3/5
      When the dogma of faith is pushed to the limits in coping with the death of a young child, the Bradley family members each struggle individually in understanding how their Mormon faith can be a hindrance in grieving, a set of expectations, or a real true religion. Claire, the mother, understandably appears to reach the deepest of depression. The value of family, for eternity, is a Mormon pillar and the family cannot be whole again until they are reunited in heaven. The Mormon religion contains many aspects that are vastly different from other faiths and the casual reader may find references to these items confusing. The author does a good job of weaving items, such as the garments, into the story. Regardless of the faith tradition, "A Song for Issy Bradley" tackles the deep question of how faith impacts grieving and can faith remain intact on the other side of the grieving process.
    • 3/5
      I received this book as part of LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's program.A tragedy has struck the Bradley family and it's affecting each member in different ways. Father Ian, a bishop in the Mormon church, relies on his faith to keep him afloat, while his wife takes to bed, nearly ceasing to exist. Their children grapple with what the tragedy will mean in their life, as well as how it effects their feelings towards their faith.This book wasn't quite what I expected. I really enjoyed the variety of perspectives that Bray gives us, though some of them are truly heartbreaking (I practically cringed every time I read David's POV). The book moves at a nice pace, even though it's more of a character study of the family than a plot-driven novel. In fact, not much happens - this is really the story of a family trying to figure out how to live their lives in the face of an unexpected and perhaps preventable tragedy. Having lost a member of my immediate family, I'm always interested in portrayals of grief and I think Bray does well here, showcasing a variety of responses and experiences that all feel realistic. I admit, I was a bit let-down by the ending - it just didn't seem to pull things together quite like I hoped.
    • 4/5
      I was very engrossed in this book. Thought it was definitely worth reading, very sad and fascinating at the same time.
    • 4/5
      I do not wish to write a synopsis of the book. That has been done. There are many issues in this book - grief, guilt, despair, resilence, and faith. The reader learns much about the Mormon faith through this novel. We also see the way in which each individual deals with a devastating family event. I struggled with 4 stars, but there were parts, including the ending that left me wondering how I felt about the book.
    • 4/5
      A book about a devout Mormon family in England. I didn't realize that Mormonism existed outside of the western US. Intriguing read - all throughout the book, I kept trying to figure out if the author was for or against the very, very strict tenets that this family followed. After the unexpected death of their child, Ian and Claire grieve in different directions and the family goes to pieces. Ian is an elder in the church, and a lifelong Mormon, while Claire converted to marry Ian. Ian is trying so hard to follow the tenets of the religion to the max, that the family self destructs. The three other children don't have guidance - and Claire takes permanently to bed. Each member of the family feels that they're walking a tightrope - are they "good enough" and "holy enough" for the eternal celestial kingdom? Of course, no one can be perfect, and Ian doesn't realize that his family must come before the church until he almost loses Claire.
    • 3/5
      A short plot summary: Set in England, after the death of the youngest child, a Mormon family must cope and come to terms with this unpredictable tragedy. The chapters alternate the points of view of each character, and the reader gets a glimpse of how each particular family member deals with the tragedy.Sadly, I don't have a lot to say after finishing this book. It was relatively slow-moving and I felt it took me a lot longer to get through than it should have. It was emotional, but not overly so. It didn't tug at me like I felt the situation (the death of a young child) should have warranted. I didn't particularly like any of the characters. The ending was a let-down. Overall, it wasn't a bad book, but it didn't touch me enough to make me think it will stick with me for any length of time.
    • 2/5
      I received a free advanced copy of this book from Librarything. I give it 1 1/2 stars.This is the story of a Mormon family that suffers the tragic loss of a young daughter. It follows their struggles with faith, family, and grief. The book devotes a chapter to each member of the family. From the Father and his blind faith to the young son who is convinced God will resurrect his dead sister. It is a story of growing together as a family through sadness and anger.I can usually gage a book by how long it takes me to read it. I guess it only took me a week but it felt like FOREVER. There were moments that I didn’t even care what happened at the end. My stubbornness forced me to finish only to discover… nothing. Nothing happens. This book felt like it was too long and cluttered with details.Each chapter was meant to be written in a different character’s voice. Honestly, without chapter titles I couldn’t tell the difference between the teenaged son and the depressed mother. It was clearly written by an ex member of the church and you can’t help but hear the underlining resentment. That may have been the only thing that kept me going.I can’t say that I would recommend it to anyone to read. It wasn’t horrible but I didn’t find it that touching. It certainly was not funny as suggested in the blurb. Now that I think about it, I don’t really get the title.
    • 4/5
      A Song for Issy BradleyA Song for Issy Bradley is a poignantly compassionate anatomy of a family coming apart after the brief illness and death of the youngest child, Issy. Carys Bray realistically portrays the erratic and unpredictable emotional responses to such loss from the different perspectives of Issy’s mother Claire, father Ian (a Bishop in the Mormon Church), and Issy’s siblings Zippy, Al, and Jacob. As a contemporary family striving to live according to the rigid tenets of the Mormon faith, the Bradley’s are forced by Issy’s death to their spiritual and physical limits. Claire cannot cope with the meaninglessness of her daughter’s death, and she blames herself for being inattentive to the warning signs of Issy’s startlingly brief illness. Her complete emotional withdrawal threatens the dissolution of the rest of the family. Bishop Ian, sacrificing most of his family life for needy members of his church, remains staunchly legalistic by insisting that there is a benevolent reason for such extraordinary loss, while his faith reveals a heartbreaking disconnecion from the suffering of his own family. As Ian attempts to uphold his role as a model Bishop in the small faith community, his focus on doctrinal correctness weighs more heavily than actually living the gospel. Teen siblings Zippy and Al languish from the emotional dearth in the grieving household. Zippy’s idealism and growing sexual awareness distract her from Issy’s absence, and her brother Al masks his grief in cynicism. Jacob is determined to bring back Issy from the dead by faithfully re-enacting prescribed rituals of his Mormon faith. A finely-etched portrait of each of the Bradleys emerges as Bray contemplates what life looks like after death, as well as what promises life might hold beyond grief. Each family member experiences a transformational moment in their grief: each dies to a particular illusion about what fidelity means; in turn, each realizes a uniquely surprising “resurrection” in their rediscovery of themselves in the context of their relationships to each another. Bray’s novel is commendable for her astonishing insight into loss, grief, and the fragility of human relationships.