Nancy Stone

When the author's husband was diagnosed with "likely Alzheimer's," Stone turned to poetry and art to try to make sense of it all. In this book, she covers five years of challenges in the role of caregiver as she lays bare her feelings of sadness, grief, anger, fear, and sometimes little joys along the caregiving journey. Told with brutal honesty, humor, and compassion, the author shares little snippets of their life together post-diagnosis.
The Bottom Line: Caregiving is a role most of us wouldn't choose. Unfortunately, many of us, including me, are finding ourselves doing just that. Artist and author Nancy Stone has channeled both the joys and the challenges of caregiving into a beautiful book of haiku poems. Although based on her experience of caregiving for her husband, who has "likely Alzheimer's," this book would be helpful to anyone struggling with long-term caregiving regardless of diagnosis. Stone's haiku cover the entire spectrum of emotions that one faces as the loved one's illness progresses: anxiety, fear, compassion, care, kindness, anger, grief, frustration, sadness, loneliness, and resolve. Highly recommended for anyone who finds themselves in this situation and in search of wisdom. Stone's inspirational poetry, along with her playful illustrations, will simply soothe your soul.… (més)

I'm always in awe how haiku has the potential of holding within it the depth of innumerable syllables, and Nancy Stone's haiku truly do justice to this artistic wonder. "Indigo Hours" is a beautiful and heart-wrenching love-letter-in-haiku written to both no one in particular and yet everyone everywhere, too, and reading it brings the reader to a place of repeated ephemeral reflection. What I appreciated the most, even more than her words, was the complete lack of self-pity in her thoughts. Her pain is real. Her hope is realistic. Her heart is broken. But her spirit continues on as she feels her pain, lets it out, allows herself to feel it again, if necessary, but never dwells on it past it's time. It's such a healthy and beautiful demonstration of managing grief that, at least for this reader, I was left with with so much learned. I don't have anyone experiencing dementia or Alzheimer's in my life, but I have experienced grief and loss, some of which is very deep and affecting, and reading "Indigo Hours" truly helped me re-visit some long-past experiences and have closure from them! I really can't recommend this book enough for anyone experiencing grief or loss as Nancy Stone's heart is a healing heart.… (més)

I am constantly amazed at the brevity and impact of Haiku verse. It is obvious from the array of Nancy Stone's haikus included in Indigo Hours she has mastered both. In only 80 pages she takes us through five years of recollections and created a loving and memorable path through the trials and tribulations of being a care giver for a loved one. Anyone confronted by similar challenges can draw parallels with their own journey and draw solace and heartfelt understanding in terms of where their journey may lead.… (més)