Wave

Who it's for

Deraniyagala refuses consolation, which is exactly what makes the book trustworthy to people whose loss is too large for platitudes.

Feelings it meets

• Grief
• Panic Attacks
• Addiction
• Depression

What it is

Wave is Sonali Deraniyagala's memoir of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which struck while she was on holiday in Yala, Sri Lanka, with her husband, two sons and parents, all of whom were killed. It records her grief in the years that followed, from barely being able to leave her room to returning to the site and, years later, to the family's unchanged London home.

Where to find it

In print (Vintage paperback); available from libraries (Libby/Hoopla) and as an audiobook. Not public domain.

Before you start

Heads up: Suicidal thoughts and deaths of children.

Age: Adult (18+)

Much of your pain is self-chosen.Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet, “On Pain”