The Theory of Crows and What It Taught Me About Grief

I recently finished reading The Theory of Crows by David A. Robertson, and I didn't expect it to affect me as deeply as it did. I started the book simply wanting to read, but by the end, I found myself thinking about grief, family, land, and my own healing journey.

There were several moments in the story that brought up memories of my great aunt Gail, who I lost last year to bladder cancer. Grief can be strange. You can be going through your everyday life thinking you're okay, and then something unexpected brings someone back to you.

For me, that was this book.

Without giving away the ending, the final part of the story really stayed with me. The way the characters use stories, letters, memory, and their journey to work through loss made me think about how we continue our relationships with people even after they're gone.

It reminded me that grief isn't something we simply "move on" from. We don't stop loving someone because they're no longer here. Their stories, memories, lessons, and influence continue to live with us.

Maybe grief doesn't disappear.

Maybe we just learn how to carry it differently.

Haudenosaunee Mohawk Artist, Kit Thomas, reading the novel "The Theory of Crows"

I was also deeply moved by the way the book portrays the land. The land isn't simply a setting. It becomes part of the characters' journey and healing. The idea of land as medicine is something I connect with deeply as a Two-Spirit Indigenous person and artist.

After I finished the book, I actually gave myself time to do that. I laid on the lawn, sat in the sun, spent time outside, drank water, ate something nourishing, and allowed myself space to process what the story had brought up.

Finishing a book became an act of self-care.

It also reminded me why storytelling is such an important part of my own art practice. My artwork comes from memory, childhood, ancestry, experiences, identity, and the way I process the world around me. Sometimes something I can't quite explain becomes a painting instead.

Stories give us another way to understand ourselves. They help us remember where we come from and keep relationships alive, even after someone is gone.

That's what The Theory of Crows gave me.

A reminder that healing doesn't mean forgetting.

Grief isn't something we leave behind.

It's something we learn to carry differently.

If this reflection resonated with you, I'd love to hear what book has stayed with you long after you finished it. Feel free to leave a comment or explore more of my writing and artwork. Every piece I create begins with memory, story, and connection.

#theoryofcrows #indigenousstorytelling #grief