The Hummingbird

A Novel

By: Stephen P. Kiernan

Narrated by: Elyse Mirto, John H. Mayer

From the author of the acclaimed The Curiosity comes a compelling and moving story of compassion, courage, and redemption.

Deborah Birch is a seasoned hospice nurse whose daily work requires courage and compassion. But her skills and experience are tested in new and dramatic ways when her easygoing husband, Michael, returns from his third deployment to Iraq haunted by nightmares, anxiety, and rage. She is determined to help him heal, and to restore the tender, loving marriage they once had.

At the same time, Deborah’s primary patient is Barclay Reed, a retired history professor and expert in the Pacific Theater of World War II whose career ended in academic scandal. Alone in the world, the embittered professor is dying. As Barclay begrudgingly comes to trust Deborah, he tells her stories from that long-ago war, which help her find a way to help her husband battle his demons.

Told with piercing empathy and heartbreaking realism, The Hummingbird is a masterful story of loving commitment, service to country, and absolution through wisdom and forgiveness.

WOW … this is truly one of the best books I’ve ever read.

As a hospice volunteer, and the sister of a Vietnam Veteran, I’m exceedingly impressed. Thank you.

Beautiful story about life, love, death.

It touched me at my bottom of my heart.
Exiting story about listening for each others, about honour and war-fights, love and death.

Pretty good

I enjoyed this audio book except for the man's part. I found it to be very distracting from the story and I just wanted to skip it and get on to the next chapter. His performance was fine but I just found the content to be boring.
The rest of the story was good and I enjoyed it.

Just okay.

I chose this story based on my love of the book "Bakers Secret". This book just didn't grab at my attention with the same level of suspense. I struggled with both male characters on the book, both so bleak. The main character Deb, kept me listening though. The female narrator was outstanding. I did not care for the male narrator of the (story within the story). It really was no discredit to him, I just didn't care for the story. If this author is new to you, I really recommend the Bakers Secret instead of the hummingbird.

Lovely Story

This tale of a hospice nurse, her war-torn husband and a dying historian is wise and beautiful and such a good book. It is a book that will teach and minister to any human who is open to learning more about life and death and love.