Author Archives: Liz Matsushita (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Short Story: “Breaking the News,” by Vladimir Nabokov (1935)

Friends struggle with how to break very bad news in this story of the moment before grief

A prominent 20th-century author and one of the great masters of language, Vladimir Nabokov wrote his share of epic, seminal novel-length works, including Lolita, Pale Fire, and Ada, or Ardor. But in the short story “Breaking the News,” first published … Continue reading

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The Art of Being a Healing Presence by James E Miller

How to help a loved one through a tough time

What does it mean to be a “healing presence”? Is being present a simple physical state — or is there something more to it? The Art of Being a Healing Presence, a slim 2001 book written by counselor and ordained … Continue reading

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The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri

Sensitive, honest portrayal of loss in the story of the Ganguli family

The family saga is a tried-and-true literary genre, one that usually follows a central clan as they grow, marry, have children, age and eventually die. There’s a certain rhythm to these types of stories — unlike so many other novels, … Continue reading

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Famous Last Words” by Katie Alender

Pocket-sized book takes a lighter look at some notable final utterances

Are a person’s last words important? Do they leave some indelible mark on this world, having been the final vocalizations of a human being before he or she passes into the next one? I’ll leave that for you to decide. … Continue reading

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”Last Acts of Kindness,” by Judith Redwing Keyssar

Stories from the bedsides of the dying and what they can teach us

A few months ago, I interviewed Redwing Keyssar for the SevenPonds blog to get her perspectives on death, dying, and palliative care. Her book, Last Acts of Kindness, outlines Redwing’s unique philosophies and also provides a vital tool for health … Continue reading

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 The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Semi-autobiographical novel reflects Plath's own struggles with depression and suicidal tendencies

Sylvia Plath’s life reads like a tragedy. A gifted writer and poet from an early age, she struggled with depression starting in her teenage years. She married poet Ted Hughes, with whom she shared a tumultuous relationship and two children. … Continue reading

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