Portraits of Huntington's [Paperback]

Carmen Leal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2001

Portraits of Huntington's is a joyful collection of profiles, essays, and quotes for and about those with Huntington's Disease. Portraits of Huntington'sfeatures award winning artist Ruth Hargrave's incredible portraits of eight individuals or family groups who are all in some way touched by this genetic disease.

Joy is a choice. Happiness is based on a set of circumstances, and Portraits of Huntington's asks us to choose joy. As with Faces of Huntington's,in each chapter is thematic, Knowledge, Laughter, Patience, Compassion, Faith, Love, Hope, and Joy.

Whether you are a person with Huntington's Disease, a caregiver, someone at-risk, a family member, a professional, or someone who simply cares, we all need joy in our lives. Somehow, despite the horror of Huntington's Disease, remarkable heroes are choosing joy every day. I hope their inspiring lives, coupled with my stories and Ruth's portraits, will encourage you to choose joy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...the world is a better place for the strength, determination, humor, and love shown by each of these wonderful people." -- Marsha L. Miller, Ph.D., Huntington's Disease Advocacy Center

"These are tremendously important stories that needed to be told and Carmen does so with warmth, humanity and grace." -- Gary Barg. Editor-in-Chief Today's Caregiver Magazine

"This is a heart-warming, powerful book... an inspiration to anyone who values human courage and strength." -- Barbara T. Boyle, National Executive Director/CEO, Huntington's Disease Society of America, Inc.

From the Publisher

The author of Faces of Huntington's has done it again. Portraits of Huntington's is a book that speaks volumes to the reader about those who are in some way dealing with Huntington's Disease on a daily basis. This captivating book, filled with true life stories, is sure to help you better understand this devastating disease, but also to realize you are not alone, and there is always joy.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 237 pages
• Publisher: Essence Publishing (July 2001)
• ISBN-10: 1553062515
• ISBN-13: 978-1553062516
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,171,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Portraits of Huntingotn's, November 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Portraits of Huntington's (Paperback)

What a joyful book! Living with Huntington's Disease is hard for everyone in the family. But there really are some times filled with love and happiness and joy. Carmen has done a wonderful job of pulling together real life stories of people who choose joy through the lessons they have learned by being caregivers or having the disease or loving someone who does.

I especially liked the profiles of those selected accompanied by portraits drawn Ruth Hargrave. She is a wonderful artist and it was fun to put faces with the stories. I don't have Huntington's in my family, but a good friend does, and I read the book to be a support to that family. What I discovered from reading it is that, like Faces of Huntington's, this book is for everyone. Everyone needs to laugh, cry, be happy, think a lot, look at living heros, look at the good in others, and a lot more that Portraits of Huntington's helps you do.

This is a wonderful book and I am more enriched from having read it.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Compassionate, insightful resource, May 13, 2002

By 

Harry L. Kraus (www.harrykraus.com) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Portraits of Huntington's (Paperback)

Carmen Leal has done what few could accomplish. She combines humor, compassion, and love with an insider's view of lives affected by Huntington's Disease. This is the place to go (along with her other book, "Faces of Huntington's") for factual, helpful information in an easy-to-read story format on the devastating genetic illness, Huntington's Disease.
Carmen is an inspiration! She offers light in a dim world, hope where there is despair, and love where none can be returned in kind.
"Portraits of Huntington's" and "Faces of Huntington's" are must-reads for anyone facing the challenges of life with this disease.
...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a wonderful book, March 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Portraits of Huntington's (Paperback)

I know Huntington's is a devastating disease that destroys the person suffering with it and also complete families. But I also know so many people who have come through the experience as better people and that's what this book is about. We are all terminal from the moment we are born yet the author has done a magnificant job of helping the reader understand that joy is a choice.

This book is the perfect companion to Faces of Huntington's since that book features such hard stories about suicide, abuse, family dynamics from hell, and so much more. This book looks at another side of Huntington's. Both books are filled with heros. I love the author's writing style and I was sad when it was over. I know I'll read this book over many times in my life.