The Hummingbird audiobook

Deborah Birch , a hospice nurse wants so much for her dying patients - a pain free death with dignity and peace and emotional healing. The story is quite sobering as it depicts the dying process of one man, Barclay Reed , a historian and former professor with a tarnished reputation . She also wants so much for her husband, Michael , a returning soldier with PTSD - a pain free life with dignity and peace and emotional healing . This is one of those stories that gets you in the gut as Deborah gives of herself with compassion and understanding to help her patient with his journey to death while trying to help her husband live . There are alternating narratives - Deborah's in present day and the other , a book written by the professor . At first I felt a bit distracted by the professor's story but surprisingly as it continued, I found myself interested in this story about war and the Japanese fighter pilot who dropped bombs in Oregon in 1942 . I never learned that in school so a quick internet search indicates that it did actually happen and the author confirms that in his notes. It's easy to connect with Deborah as we learn about her life with Michael before his tours , and her experiences with her past patients, and also with Barclay who eventually opens up to Deborah . But I found it more difficult to know her husband Michael and perhaps that was indicative of his state of mind . It is with Barclay's story that Deborah and the reader get a better understanding of Michael's pain.The recurrence of the hummingbird, a carved figure given as gift to Deborah and also painted on the bottom of a stoneware bowl owned by the professor emanate the hope that as a reader I was desperately seeking in the life and death circumstances of this novel . Definitely recommended.Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.

Without allowing spoiler alerts, I try to give an assessment of what I learned or what I liked about a novel when I write my reviews. Also, I try not to “re-do” the book jacket synopsis. Feelings on the novel are on the forefront.That said, I thought THE HUMMINGBIRD did an excellent job of providing the reader information on a really good Hospice Care providers. In my personal history, both of my parents died of cancer, at different years. Both wanted to die at home and had hospice. I can say our family had a really terrible Hospice experience on both deaths. Boy, do I wish we had Deborah from this novel. I am hoping that Kiernan has had experience and has been involved with this sort of hospice care (that it’s not all fiction). Kiernan provides humanity to the hospice experience. I wished we had had the wisdom and guidance that Deborah provided. This is a great fiction novel to read if you have a love one who has terminal cancer.The other information I gleaned from this novel is the affects of PTSS on the wives of returning servicemen. After watching “American Sniper” and the fabulous Bradley Cooper, I got a glimpse of the agony; this novel provides another personal view of living with and loving a person with PTSS.Finally, I promise you will learn a tidbit about WWII that you never knew; never heard of; and is a bit of a surprise. I liked this novel more than his previous novel “The Curiosity”. Perhaps it’s because it struck home to me. I enjoy books that illuminate life and provide a different prospective than the prospective I had. My feelings of hospice have changed, and I’m illuminated and have sympathy to our returning war veterans and their families.

A couple of years ago, author and journalist Stephen P. Kiernan made his fiction debut with his novel The Curiosity. That book, about a man reanimated from death, showcased Kiernan's aptitude for a creative character driven story that defied the confines of traditional genres and left an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of readers. In his sophomore novel, The Hummingbird, Kiernan trades in the high concept premise of his debut for a more intimate narrative that is remarkably understated, but equally affecting.Deborah Birch is no stranger to death. As a hospice nurse, she helps people and their families to pass over with dignity, compassion, and peace. Shepherding her patients to the other side brings Deborah slices of insight about life, family, and love, all of which she relates to her own life and to those of future clients. But all of her past experiences have done little to prepare her for the challenges that she currently faces. Deborah's husband, Michael, is a war veteran who is struggling to acclimate to his life outside of the military. Three tours as a sniper in the Middle East have left him a shell of his former self and caused a rift between him and his wife. Anger issues caused from PTSD only magnify the fear and uncertainty in the couple's rocky relationship. Try as she might, Deborah can't seem to break through to the man she loves so deeply. The challenges are only intensified when Deborah enters the home of her latest patient Barclay Reed. The former history professor is facing an incurable illness that will soon end his life. He spends his days alone in his sizable estate on the Pacific Coast, thinking back on his academic career and the disgrace that led to its demise. Ridiculous demands and an abrasive temper have made it impossible for Reed to keep a hospice nurse for more than one day at a time. As the fourth nurse from her company to attend to Reed's needs and with no surviving family to intervene, Deborah is his last hope. Slowly, a mutual trust and understanding begins to form. Reed is a bitter and jaded old man, but underneath that hardened exterior lies a fiercely intelligent man full of knowledge and wisdom about history and life. As Deborah and Reed grow closer, they begin to share about their lives. Deborah tells him of the problems with her husband, and Reed tells her of the last book he was working on. This book, about a Japanese pilot bomber in WWII, was deemed as fabricated plagiarism by Reed's colleagues and became a scandalous end to his distinguished career. As Reed approaches his final days, he has Deborah read from this book and wills her to come to her own opinion about its validity. Kiernan's quietly nuanced writing paints a breathtaking portrait of life, death, and human interaction. The novel alternates between the present day story of Deborah and Reed with the story of the Japanese WWII pilot seeking redemption from his actions in the war. This alternating narrative device seems to be quite popular in literary fiction these days, but can sometimes make a novel disjointed and difficult to follow. Fortunately, the two stories of this book weave effortlessly with each other as the story of the past becomes a kind of metaphor for the one that is presently unfolding. Kiernan takes what could easily have been a sappy, sentimental tale and elevates it to a deeply moving experience that will stay with you long after the final page. With this poignant novel, Kiernan eclipses the success of his previous effort and reaches a maturity that cements his place as one of the top authors writing today.

I have to admit that it was the title that first drew me to this book as I love anything at all to do with hummingbirds. Although there was only a slight reference to the meaning of the title in the book, this gorgeous novel did not disappoint in any way.There are actually three stories in this book. The first deals with a very caring hospice worker, Deborah Birch, and her work with a patient, Barclay Reed, who is a professor and expert on the Pacific Theater of World War II. Deborah is assigned the tough cases and Professor Reed is certainly a tough nut to crack. Their developing relationship and journey toward the end of Professor Reed’s life is a beautiful and emotional one. The gift Deborah receives in return for her loving care is indeed a priceless one.The second story deals with Deborah’s husband, Michael. He’s a severely damaged war veteran dealing with the memories of the atrocities that he’s encountered and the ghosts that haunt him. Their story will break your heart as her husband struggles to heal and they try to piece their marriage back together.The third story is an extraordinary one about a World War II Japanese pilot who fire bombs a forest in the US and his journey towards redemption and forgiveness. It’s one that you won’t soon forget and I found it to be a very powerful lesson.I’ve read a few reviews saying that this book is sappy. I don’t like sappy books and didn’t find this one to be sappy at all. I thought it was beautifully written, moving, touching and emotional with strong insight into the human soul. The author has a true heart of a poet. I can’t wait to read his first novel, “The Curiosity”, although it sounds like a very different type of book.I won an ARC of this book through The Reading Room with the request that I give an honest review.

This book has been languishing on my TBR since 2015. Thankfully a new book club I just joined had selected it for their December read.I LOVED the book. Excellent Historical Fiction that revealed to me something I did not know before. Very strong character development with some unique (not all endearing, just unique!!) personalities.This is the story of Deborah Birch, a hospice nurse; Michael, her husband, who has endured three tours of duty to Iraq and is suffering the consequences; and Barclay Reed, a disgraced history professor, who is dying from cancer.The setting is Oregon in the 2000's. We do, through the professor, return to WWII and discover some events that no one seems to know anything about. Well, at least not Nurse Birch, who the professor challenges to listen to this story and determine if it is true.There is a lot of synergy occurring here. Deborah helping the professor to cope with his last days and struggling to help her husband heal. The Professor helping Deborah to help her husband heal. At Book Club, much discussion occurred about the merits of the book and the members' own experience with the death of a loved one and the effects of war on their spouses or friends. One comment that came out: the book, though written by a male, shows a certain understanding of the female psyche!! Recommended to those who love diverse culture (Japanese culture explored), historical fiction, and medical novels, as the role of a hospice nurse is beautifully revealed.5 stars (FULL!!)

Reading the flap copy about the book, I was not particularly eager to read it. Hospice care is not a happy subject and sometimes, I need a happy book. Stephen P. Kiernan has done his topic justice and his writing kept me turning the pages until I was sadly finished with his wonderful characters. While a couple of his characters were less than nice, the others were beautifully written and realized. I wanted to go on their journey even though I knew where I was going and how it was going to end. Having too much personal experience with hospice, I was leery, but Kiernan dragged me in and got the details right, along with the feelings and experience. This was another book I would not have picked up were it not for my Booktopia friends and I am so looking forward to meeting this author in May.

Many thanks to librarything.com for the advanced uncorrected proof of The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan in return for my honest review.I generally will not read morbidly depressing stories, regardless of their literary merit. Thus, I was hesitant about reading The Hummingbird as the subject matter of the book alternated between Hospice care and the rehabilitation of an Iraqi war veteran severely damaged emotionally during his third deployment. However, this book surprised me in the very best of ways. This was a fascinating novel. I just loved it. Yes, the story was about death and the cruelties of war, but it was so well done, and despite the subject matter, was one of the most hopeful and inspiring stories that I have read in a very long time. It is a smart, thought-provoking book. The main character, suffering with her own personal family matters, was a tender and incredibly kind care-giver who dedicated her life to making terminally ill patients feel cared for and loved in their final days. There were a couple of issues though, I absolutely hated that the main character and her husband called each other "lover". It was distracting and somewhat irritating. Additionally, the main story is disrupted with excerpts from a book documenting a WWII Japanese pilot responsible for dropping incendiary bombs over the Oregon Coast, but who subsequently dedicated his life to making amends for his actions and being a symbol of peace. These excerpts initially were confusing and broke the flow of the main story, but subsequently became less distracting and even enhanced the novel. I highly recommend this book, and hope that you enjoy it as much as I did. 4 1/2 stars.

Deborah is a hospice nurse, a category that requires an understanding of human frailty and nature and requires a certain kind of strength to perform. Her husband, home from his third deployment in Iraq, is deeply affected by PTSD, and her newest work assignment is particularly challenging -- a disgraced Professor, expert on The Pacific Theater, who has chewed up and spit out her predecessors. Deborah's reserves and skills are tested by both aspects of her life. Kiernan's knowledge of the subjects that form the backbone of this book is surehanded and decisive. The parallels of the WWII experiences and those of present day are brought into sharp focus, and many issues raised calling attention to the plight of returning soldiers in original and enlightening ways. Highly recommended.

Warning! This is an emotionally draining book, but in the best way! I got choked up the first time in chapter one and it didn't let up! The author does not shy away from the painful realities of Hospice care, or PSTD. And, despite living in Oregon for a year, I had never heard about the history shared in the dying professor's book, "The Sword", and was curious to find out if his tale was "fact" or "fiction". Thought provoking and moving, heart-breaking and hopeful, this book will stay with me a long time.

Really surprised by how much I enjoyed this. I think my experience was affected by the fact that I also just finished reading Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, a nonfiction book about aging and death and the difficult issues regarding care of the elderly. This novel was a perfect follow-up; the main character is a hospice nurse whose husband suffers from PTSD after 3 tours overseas. You can tell that the author has also written a book in the same lines as Gawande's from the way the characters interact and handle the hard issues of end of life care. Deb is caring for a curmudgeonly old man who has written an unpublished chronicle of a little known incident in World War II history. Chapters from this unpublished work are interspersed in between chapters about her care of her patient and her struggle to understand her husband's struggle with PTSD and help him to heal. Initially, I was really bored by the World War 2 chapters but gradually the connection it has with the rest of the story comes to light. I thought it was such a good book for building empathy, understanding PTSD from multiple perspectives. I also appreciated the dignity the dying character was given throughout the book and the way that both the nurse and her patient discussed the purpose of suffering and recognized the gifts they were able to give each other from their own life experiences.

A most excellent book. A must read for caregivers. I was moved on every level .

I think we all take each day of our life for granted. I believe it's because we firmly believe that there will be a tomorrow and the day after that until we grow old. But the people I think truly appreciate what they have are those that have to face a terminal diagnosis, knowing that tomorrow is never a guarantee for any of us. Stephen P. Kiernan has written an unforgettable novel that showcases three very unique relationships in The Hummingbird. It is written in alternating chapters, one in the life of hospice nurse, Deborah Birch, and the story of the Sword she reads to her dying patient Professor Barclay Reed. Deborah's relationship with the Professor is to help him see that even though time is running out on his life he still has a lot to offer. She promises that even though he has fired every single nurse in three different hospice care facilities, she will not give up on him. As the two work on coming to terms with how they interact with one another in the time that is left, the Professor asks her to read an unpublished book that he had written and at the conclusion of the story, to tell him if she believes it is true or simply a work of fiction. Along the way, the Professor's brilliant metaphors for life, help Deborah deal with her husband, Michael who after returning home from his third tour of duty is not the man she married. His violent outbursts have been a huge strain on their marriage and now they simply exist as roommates in the same home. Not the life she had ever imagined and not one she wanted to open up to the Professor about. The Professor has written numerous volumes on the Pacific Theater and the Sword was the only one that never got published. As they read through the story together, the Professor helps Deborah understand the subtleties behind what Michael has brought home from the war. He uses parts of the story to help her gain insight into the clues he brings up that offer more than what she has been seeing all along. Deborah also finds that through each case she has worked with her patients, they all offer her the one thing that money can never buy and it's a gift she carries with her to each and every patient. She promises that she will do all she can to ensure that their death is peaceful, as painfree as possible and that they leave behind no regrets if she can help it. I received The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. While this is NOT a book for my Christian readers, those who find an interest in hospice, WWII and PTSD, will love where these stories intersect and find such value for life, it kinda of changes how you move forward after reading this. There is some profanity, but taken in the context of the character of Michael, as a returning soldier from the war, it would be what one would expect dealing with the nightmares and issues he has. In my opinion, this one is worth 4 out of 5 stars.

Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...**I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher William Morrow via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is September 8, 2015** This is a story that hit a little close to home at the moment so I am not sure if I can give it a truly unbiased review. So this will be a short one. This is a story of someone who is dying from a horrible disease and the caretaker whose job it is to stay with him until he passes. It is the story of healing during the dying process as well as a story of learning and growing right up until the end. It is a story about how those at the end of their path still have the ability to teach those who are not. I found this to be a moving story. From Barclay's story of Cancer to Michael's struggle with integrating back in to life following three deployments, it is one that consumes you emotionally. Then for extra interest there is the story of WWII just to add a little bit extra. This was a story that I took my time with as I feel it deserved to be read slowly instead of the usual power reading I do. While it may have left me a little bit emotionally drained due to its subject matter I found it to be a wonderful read