Whether you have experienced grief firsthand or you are still struggling to define who you truly are, Siri Hustvedt has written a book for you.

The wife of the late famous writer Paul Auster, Hustvedt is a novelist, essayist, and scholar. She holds a PhD in English literature, three honorary doctorates, and numerous other accolades. Her main interests include neuro-psychoanalysis, biology and philosophy. At 71 years old, she continues to surprise readers and share her insightful perspectives on grief, the concept of self and marriage.

Hustvedt has published 17 books, including novels, essay collections, poetry and non-fiction works. Upon meeting her, I asked what advice she would give to young writers or anyone interested in the literary world. Siri generously told me “to just keep writing. It’s the one thing you have control over.”

Hustvedt visited Lisbon this past summer and gave three talks about her latest book, Ghost Stories. This book explores the loss of her everyday person and life partner, Paul Auster. For those who don’t know, Paul suffered from lung cancer. He was diagnosed in December 2022, and in April 2024, he passed away.

“Passed away”… even Hustvedt dissects this expression to its core. Why do we use it? During one of her talks in Lisbon and in her book, she notes how society seems to be scared of the real, raw, and direct word “death.” Death is not something peaceful, as the expression “passed away” suggests.

The truth is that grieving someone whom you knew was going to die soon and grieving someone unexpectedly are two very different experiences. Joan Didion had no idea her husband and only daughter were going to die so suddenly. It was as if a train had hit her and the reader can clearly see that in her books. However, Hustvedt’s book also dives into their complicated life together: their losses, love, and struggles.

While Ghost Stories serves as a memoir of grief and her life with Paul Auster, The Blindfold is the opposite. It is a book about self-discovery, new beginnings and struggling to navigate the world. Released in 1992, it is a book that will one day be considered a classic, alongside Stoner and Just Kids. Mark my words.

Even though her most famous works are What I Loved and The Summer Without Men, I think The Blindfold deserves to be held in the same high regard. We evolve with the protagonist. We are there every step of the way through Iris’s life.

Whether you turn to her to navigate the weight of grief or to figure out who you truly are, Hustvedt proves that the right book doesn’t just meet you where you are. It stays with you long after the final page.