Bringing Vincent Home

Though a novel, Bringing Vincent Home reads like the finest memoir, so authentic and convincing that at times I found myself turning back to the title page to be sure it was a work of fiction. Rarely does a book of any sort touch me as this one did. Madeleine Mysko has created a vivid, beautifully written, and deeply personal piece of literature.

Tim O'Brien, author, The Things They Carried, and Going After Cacciato (National Book Award Winner) Madeleine Mysko's portrayal of the burn ward, of the suffering soldier, and of the afflicted families and efficient caregivers, are real and riveting. As more and more soldiers are injured and disabled in Iraq and Afghanistan, as more and more families are called upon to tend to or bury their loved ones, Mysko's novel comes not only as a wake-up call but also as a soothing balm. This is a viscerally wrought and redemptive tale, difficult to put down, and impossible to shake from the memory.

Cortney Davis, author, Leopold's Maneuvers and I Knew a Woman, editor, Between the Heartbeats: Poetry and Prose by Nurses and Intensive Care: More Poetry and Prose by Nurses Madeleine Mysko writes evocatively about the virtues of a cradle Catholic who deals with an alcoholic husband, a politically energized daughter, an unjust war, and a changed church. With an eye for the telling detail and a great compassion for all her characters, Mysko traces the journey of a woman who struggles with tragedy and gains wisdom.

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, former Lieutenant Governor, the State of Maryland, author, Failing America's Faithful: How Today's Churches Are Mixing God with Politics and Losing their Way.