Everything brave has to start somewhere…
Sara Seager
Sara Seager was a wife, a mother of two young sons, and a world-renowned astrophysicist. Suddenly, at the age of forty, she found herself a widow, a single parent and a world-renowned astrophysicist. This book is her story
…more of that transition. She tells it thoughtfully and honestly.
Being an astrophysicist very much engaged in her search for life at the outer reaches of the universe did not necessarily qualify Sara as an expert in the day-to-day operations of life on earth. That was her husband's expertise. After his death, in the midst of her research and teaching and writing, she found herself being mom and dad to her sons—getting them up and off to school, feeding them, helping with homework—all the while doing her best to deal with the most profound grief she had ever known. And so she had to start from scratch. Her butcher taught her to cook. The guys at the hardware store taught her about tools and home repairs. A group of young women in her town, the Widows of Concord, provided her with the emotional support she so desperately needed. Sara's story is filled with triumphs and disappointments. I wanted to cheer the courage she exhibited in facing the obstacles that came her way.
Although I sometimes found myself wanting to skim over some of the scientific details, I did enjoy this book. I would recommend it to anyone who has had to deal with a major loss, especially if they are fascinated by the night sky and what might be out there. (less)