Although Tolkien’s letters call Samwise Gamgee the “chief hero” of The Lord of the Rings, Sam is easily underestimated by both readers and critics. Recovering Consolation focuses attention on Sam’s point of view throughout the long journey that is the novel. This book responds to Frodo’s famous words at the Stairs of Cirith Ungol, imagining a child speaking to a parent: “I want to hear more about Sam, dad; why didn’t they put in more of his talk, dad? That’s what I like, it makes me laugh. And Frodo wouldn’t have got far without Sam, would he, dad?” Listening to Sam not only makes us laugh but also shows him to be, like Tolkien himself, a master of mythopoesis; as the novel’s narrator puts it, “Sam had more on his mind than gardening.” Yet the concrete act of gardening, another passion that Sam shares with Tolkien, should help us to understand how consolation is recovered, as is well explained in Tolkien’s great essay, “On Fairy Stories.” Both there and in The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien offers a “theological aesthetic” that has much to teach us. Although we may not realize it while laughing along with Sam, this humble servant-hobbit is key to this aesthetic.

Hurt combines the biblical and theoretical, drawing from the healing power of therapy, the knowledge of psychology, the wisdom of theology and the experiences of hundreds of individuals to provide comfort, consolation, insight and understanding to the abandoned and heartbroken individual while time and growth bring forth recovery at his own pace. The book facilitates recovery as the reader learns about himself, his choices in people, the need to forgive and the realization that he is not alone or unusual in his pain.

Do you like to cook? Do you like to eat good food? Are you sad about a change in your life or a loss of someone or something you loved and/or enjoyed? If you answered YES! to at least one question, then you will enjoy this book. Inside is a collection of good recipes and a guide to your recovery from a change or a loss in your life. Complete the assignments and bring your grieving to a close. This collection of recipes include meat, fish, soups and desserts.

Fans of JoJo Moyes will love this heartfelt, emotional read about a woman who loses everything and the man who helped her heal.