PROXIMITY

About the Book

How does it feel to lie in a hospital bed, aware but unable to express oneself? This gripping situation is addressed in the captivating fiction of a patient left comatose by a car accident. She senses generations of family visitors wafting through her consciousness, interspersed with focused images of past experiences. These gradually blend until various stimuli become clear. The deep, complex bonds of familial relationships, centered on trusting children, are interwoven with the theme of long-term parental hospitalization. Tied to this struggle for physical recovery is an earlier road to emotional healing, following the tragedy of infant loss. We also view the patient through an empathetic young nurse who observes the patient’s relationships with visitors. Considering her own close connections as well as events and decisions that led to her current circumstance, the nurse recognizes that her sense of familial ties has been forever altered by these children and their parents. The reader is inspired by the patient’s determination to communicate and by her intense desire to return home. Evoking sympathy throughout, Proximity evolves as a celebration of innocent hope, maternal love, and the ideal of family.

About the Author

Ellen Rubinstein has always been passionate about reading and writing, earning a BA in English Literature from Cornell University. As she went on to study science, earning a doctorate in Engineering from Rensselaer and becoming a research scientist in industry then a professor of Chemistry at a New Jersey state university, she continued to read and write. Her publications include a memoir of experiences abroad during college years (A JOURNEY, AuthorHouse, ISBN# 1-4033-1738-0) and a fiction novel (She Sought, He Sought, PublishAmerica, ISBN# 1-4241-0951-5). Both are available from amazon, and both have received positive feedback from book-signings, book discussion groups, personal notes, and on-line reviews. New Jersey’s Monmouth County Public Library system has purchased multiple copies of the memoir, which is included in its book club listing. As a nature-lover, the author enjoys taking long walks, appreciating the beauty around us and often photographing inspiring images. As a music-lover, she sings in two choral groups and plays the flute. Her photographs may be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/EllenRubinsteinNaturePhotography.