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THE HUMMINGBIRD
BY
STEPHEN KIERNAN
REVIEWED BY LINDA WICKLUND
 The
Hummingbird is the first novel I've read by this
author and it won't be my last. It was a story
within a story involving a seasoned hospice
nurse, Deb, and her struggles coping with her
husband, Michael, who after returning from his
third deployment to Iraq is a changed man. He
is tormented by rage and experiences endless
nightmares. It takes all of Deb's patience,
compassion and determination to try to restore
their marriage to the loving one they once had.
The other story is
that of her current hospice patient, Barclay Reed,
a retired history professor who is an expert in
the Pacific Theater of World War II. Barclay is a
cantankerous patient at best. In fact, he'd
already dismissed two other caregivers.
Fortunately for him, he had met his match since
Deb was known for "sticking, for staying and never
giving up."
It's at this point
Barclay asks Deb to read to him from his final
book named the Sword. I think I've mentioned
before that although this is a work of fiction
many times novels are also educational. The Sword
is an account of a Japanese pilot's mission to fly
off a submarine and into Oregon to create chaos in
1942. "The plan was to set the forests of the
Pacific Northwest on fire." At the time, the
Department of War, kept this a secret. Some of
you may remember the expression, "Loose Lips Sink
Ships."
The stories
continue as Deb earns Barclay's respect and she
tries her best to help her husband let go of his
anger and forgive himself for his memories of
war. Ironically, it's Barclay who helps her help
Michael with his insight that "It is possible for
a warrior to become a man of peace."
I hope you enjoy
this well-told story of love and a wedding vow not
taken lightly. As well as the amazing dedication
of a hospice nurse who does such difficult work
everyday with empathy and compassion.
Happy reading!
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