On November 16, 1965, Beth Taylor s idyllic childhood was shattered at age twelve by the suicide of her older brother Geoff. Raised in an intentional community north of Philadelphia a mix of farm village, hippie commune, and suburb she and her siblings were instilled with nonconformist values and respect for the Quaker tradition. With the loss of her beloved brother, Taylor began her complicated journey to understand family, loss, and faith.

Written after years of contemplation, The Plain Language of Love and Loss reflects on the meaning of death and loss for three generations...