The Mourning Parade by Dawn Reno Langley

Dawn Reno Langley is an American award-winning author, writing coach, editor, mosaic artist, who has devoted her life to giving a voice to social justice issues. She is the author of multiple novels, young adult fiction and children’s books. Her strikingly painful novel.  The Mourning Parade, published on July 18, 2017, sets the narrative of a female veterinarian Natalie who lost her two sons Stephen and Danny in a school shooting. As a consequence of the political upheaval, many parents lost their kids that day. The series of emotional outbursts such as anxiety, heartache, depression, trauma, wound, eco-grief, regret, self-blame, melancholy, and anger are observed in the novel. Not only that, but the novel also provides a unique platform to address violence, trauma, grief, poaching, and abuse on the part of animals. Nat decides to opt for a venture at Thailand Elephant Sanctuary where she finds an unlikely camaraderie with abused female elephant Sophie. She is a PTSD patient who is suffering from grief and wounds in her leg that are caused by men. They share a common relationship that draws on the strands of a patriarchal system that exploits their well-being through socio-political violent actions and women’s struggle to survive in the moments of uncertainty that lead to traumatic experiences.

The impact of climate change on the environment is becoming a lived experience for every individual. The mourning of the loss of the ecosystem is likely to become a more frequent experience around the world. Ever since the communities were formed, the one subject that has been under constant discussion and has made it today, is unprivileged strata’s struggle to make their livelihood and build a safe community. It combines the personal and collective traumatic experiences of women and animals. But post-partnership among Sophie and Nat nurtures mutual care, acceptance, love, and cooperation. Based on their commonality, both women and nature unite to dismantle the social constraints and they re-create psychological faculties by reconnecting with the community.