Betsy DiJulio is resilience personified in her recent memoir, “Bitter Wine, Sweet Melons,” centered on the sudden loss of her husband and “counterweight,” Joe, who died of cardiac arrest at 56. Within a few months, DiJulio would also suffer the loss of her mother and beloved dog, ushering her into a somber period of transition and, eventually, a new life on the other side.
DiJulio, a high school art teacher and freelance writer in Coastal Virginia, naturally turned to creativity as a way to process her grief during what she came to think of as her “hero’s journey” to healing. The end result is a short but deeply personal memoir — including original artwork by the author — about surviving loss that is reminiscent of Joan Didion’s “The Year of Magical Thinking.”
It’s easy to get to know DiJulio in these pages, from references to the longstanding birthday party she throws in honor of Julia Child to her reflections on grief in popular music. Local readers will enjoy the many nods to physical and social landmarks of Coastal Virginia and North Carolina.
DiJulio speaks candidly about her frustrations with her husband’s unhealthy diet — which may have been a factor in the health condition that ultimately claimed his life — and is refreshingly honest with readers about her experience dating as a widow.
While “Bitter Wine, Sweet Melons” obviously tackles heavy subject matter, the tone of the book is optimistic. DiJulio’s zest for life remains constant, even in the aftermath of heartbreaking loss, and her reflections on this transformative stage of her life were inspiring to read.
