A Healing Touch: True Stories of Life, Death, and Hospice

by Richard Russo (Editor)

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Richard Russo and five other Maine authors here prove that the close of life need not be filled with darkness, when hospice help is at hand. These writers recount intensely personal and profoundly moving end-of-life accounts that cover a wide spectrum of human experience. All six authors are donating their royalties to a Maine hospice; Down East will also donate 10 percent of proceeds to the same cause.

Genres: Nonfiction, Medical, Self Help, Essays, Health

144 pages, Hardcover

First published February 25, 2008

About the author

RICHARD RUSSO is the author of seven previous novels; two collections of stories; and Elsewhere, a memoir. In 2002 he received the Pulitzer Prize for Empire Falls, which like Nobody’s Fool was adapted to film, in a multiple-award-winning HBO miniseries.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not everyone would enjoy this book. It is simply a few true stories, each written by a different author and therefor in a different style. Each author interviewed different families who had lost a family member and been helped by hospice - sometimes the help was years after the loss. Each author chose one family's story to tell. The purpose of the book is as a fundraiser for a local hospice organization, but also to spread the word about the value of hospice. Hospice care is not just for people who are dying. Hospice is also for their families, both during the time of illness and death, and afterward for families dealing with grief however long that might take.

The value of the book is not in its gripping storyline nor in the art of storytelling. The value lies in the greater understanding that might be gained in the reading. If you have never lost a loved one, now is a good time to read this book. If you have lived through the grief of loss, this book may help you feel less alone.

[Deborah Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Russo was my route to finding this little gem. I appreciate his novels and will show up for just about anything with his name on it! I found it to be unique in structure- most books about death or hospice or living while also dying or caregiving are written by a single author, whereas this is a compilation. I think that serves the topic well, in illuminating the uniqueness of each person's and family's situation as end of life approaches. And the writing sparkles, of course.

[Sue Mitchell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing really earth shattering here. Passable writing, although a few of the chapters (each written by a different author) had some awkward phrasing which detracted from the emotional impacts I'm sure they were trying to create. Best essay written by Russo which really isn't a surprise given his success as a writer.

[Marci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational...

[Linda Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This small book includes 6 short stories by 6 different authors. They all center around a death and hospice, the latter for the person who is ill and dying OR for the living who are dealing with the death of a loved one.

The stories did not seem equal to me; I would rate 3 of the stories at a 4 rating and the other at a 3 rating. I realize that may have more to do with my experience with death and hospice as the actual quality of the stories. My father died of cancer in a hospice house in Rochester, NY; my sister who recently died of pneumonia and dementia had been a hospitce nurse for years - in Maine no less (but not the hospice service location referenced in this book).

One takeaway is the importance of music in the dying experience. All of the stories are thought-provoking.

[Dona · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a tremendous respect for hospice care and while I have never personally had to use them I know people who have and they all unanimously praise their services. This book was not what I thought it would be. It read like a fund raiser for the Maine Hospice Society. There is certainly nothing wrong with that and I hope they were able to raise much needed funds to support their programs. I selected this book because Richard Russo was the editor and wrote the first story in the book. He is outstanding and his story was without a doubt the best. The others? Not so much.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small powerful little book. I found it because I was looking for other books by Gerry Boyle and this came up. It is a collection of stories by Maine writers about hospice and the people they talked with and their stories. It is very well done and very easy to read. As a hospice nurse, I can relate! Thank you!

[Michael O'Neill]

Don't know why this is described as "Want To Read". I have read and thoroughly enjoyed six of Russo's novels. Somehow, there are eleven of his books marked as "Want To Read" on this site. There is only one that I Want To Read. Have no idea how all those other books got listed that way. It wasn't me. And I can't find a way to remove them.

[Deb Holden · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compilation of hospice stories by Maine authors. Easy and short with life lessons.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

6 short stories about Hospice care. Not only how they care for the terminally ill, but also their caregivers and families with grief counseling. Interesting read.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. Not at all depressing. Was surprised to learn of the extent of hospice services, especially bereavement.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Five chapters written by 5 Maine authors, a couple were excellent, a couple were ok. Mostly for a Maine audience.

[Ré Cockrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sought this book out for two reasons: I've been reading everything I can about hospice, and I love Richard Russo's writing.

This diverse collection of essays about "Life, Death, and Hospice" did not disappoint. Russo's contribution was beautiful, but so were the others.

What I found most meaningful about this text is the incredible variety of experience represented by both the contributing authors and the people they have written about. Probably like most people, I had the idea that hospice was just for the terminally ill. Reading this volume showed me so much more: hospice is about life, healing, death (before, during, and well after), relationships, families, existential issues. For example, I was particularly struck by the stories of a young man who died unexpectedly (i.e. not from a terminal illness) and a young man who committed suicide. The role hospice played for each of their families was incredible.

Hospice has touched my own life in a very personal way in the past, and it is only recently that I've been considering becoming involved in hospice as a volunteer. Knowing what I know now about the incredible variety and value of services hospice offers, I'm even more interested.

I'd certainly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about hospice, but I also think it's a worthwhile read for anyone thinking about death and healing. There is a universality to the emotions and experiences encapsulated in this text.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six Maine authors (several of my favorites among them) each contributed a story about life, death, hope, and healing to this book, which was edited by Richard Russo and is being sold as a fundraiser for the Waterville area hospice program. I'm learning a lot about hospice as I read--I've always thought of it as primarily a support program for the terminally ill, and never realized how much of their work deals with helping survivors come to terms with their grief AFTER any sort of death, whether sudden or lingering. The primary themes of the book--we all grieve differently, there is no "wrong" way to deal with the death of a loved one, and most of us probably need help with the process, whether we realize it or not--are presented through the six different stories, told in the six writers' very different voices. A good read for anyone dealing with grief (new or old), or helping others to heal.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never finished this book. I did enjoy the stories I read about hospice. I think one day I would like to devote some time to hospice and help others in the change of life from one world to another. I can only hope that when it is my time to pass, that someone will be there to guide me too. Hospice is an awesome network of people and they have helped many friends and family as they prepared to die. I want to learn more about this wonderful program.

[Laine · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays reflecting the lives of those who have suffered grievous loss identified by a hospice in New England. I am appalled that the authors of those essays, supposed professional writers, introjected so much of themselves onto the voices of the actual sufferers. So, instead of reading first person accounts, true accounts of the often searing stories of how their loved ones "went out", we read about writers watching themselves write about hospice clients. Yuck.

[Kelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as great as I was expecting - though the last essay was moving (though I'm moved by so much these days, feeling ever so slightly raw.) I expected more about hospice, and the essays were more about after-death copings. And while that's good too, I think my 'current emotional needs' trumped my enjoyment of the book.

[Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

True stories have such a different slant on life and this is no exception.
The process of healing from grief is so personal and these writers are talented in their portrayal of the survivors.

I likes the references to winslow's part in this as we had several of our children attend Mechawana at Methodist youth camps there.

The hospice volunteers have such a tender, delicate task...

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Russo and five other Maine writers - Gerry Boyle, Wes McNair, Bill Roorbach, Richard Russo, Susan Sterling, and Monica Wood - offer stories based on conversations with people involved in Hospice care. (Proceeds go to support the Hospice Volunteers of the Waterville Area.)

A very beautiul book.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I figured this would be a difficult read as my father passed away in a hospice home just one month ago. I had started it months before and set it aside. After Dad's death I picked it back up and was somewhat comforted. The last story made it all worthwhile since I am convinced the music I played for him on his last earthly day was comforting and soothing for him.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I sometimes think I would have done well as a hospice worker, so this book caught my eye. I also love Richard Russo. This small little book packs a big punch--essays written by Maine writers who in some way had a connection to hospice, whether it be through family or friends or employment.

[Mom (Belinda) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely series of short stories about the hospice in the Waterville Maine area. I met the quilt lady and saw her beautiful quilt. Her story is quite remarkable.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it! mom's essay is the best, of course, but the rest are also inspiring and are examples of really good writing.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please see my review at RAVES.

[Patricia L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue Angels Blue Angels b Monica Wood is the best. Each short story hasthe author reflecting on death at the same time as telling their interviewees story. Nice.

[Darleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poignant stories about life, dying, and death. These stories feel like they should be told by a fire.

[Rachel B · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a good book but not what I expected. I was hoping to read more about actual hospice, not grief counseling. All stories but one about parents struggling with a child's death. Very sad.