Many of us have experienced the loss of a loved one - family, partner, friend, and dealing with that loss can be so difficult. This book offers insight into death, and may offer some comfort for those looking for answers after the death of someone close to them. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I found the book well-written, and an interesting read. Having experienced quite a few losses of my own, I also found this comforting to a degree. I recommend this for anyone spiritual who is looking for some answers or comfort when it comes to death.

I found this book interesting as I had been researching death doulas.
This is a different spin on the end of life viewpoint in the US.
It addresses spirituality and the questions of what happens at death.

Really fascinating read about the work that Debra Diamond has undertaken in her calling as a death Doula. For me this was a profound and ultimately uplifting read. While those of us interested in the spiritual world have read of those seeing their lost loved ones before they die, this is the first time i have read an account of a doula using her spiritual gifts to communicate with the person dying and also the spirits there to be with them when they pass. For anyone with an ounce of spirituality and curiosity about what happens when we die - and especially for those whose loved ones are or will go into a hospice - this is an essential read.

Diary of a Death Doula provides insight into death and dying from the point of view of an intelligent, compassionate, intuitive, and ultimately kind and loving human being. I learned a great deal about death and dying, had my own experiences confirmed, and was pleased to feel supported in reading about a typically uncomfortable and unsavory and ultimately true fact of life: we die. In Diary of a Death Doula, Debra Diamond shares experiences in her first year of volunteering as a doula. I wanted more, so much more that passages of brilliance, near-poetic expression of the ineffable hurt to read. The book is structured much like the diary of a middle school child, complete with the weather, the comings and goings of inconsequential, the drive to work, the snacks in the break room. The structure and the arms-length view of a transformational year in the life of an exceptional woman ultimately frustrated, infuriated, and made me feel like I was cheated out of getting to know a calling, a different aspect of reality, and the experience of a gifted, accomplished person who went from Wall Street to bedside and never shared why or how--respecting privacy is one thing, failing to link parts of life and feelings fails the tidbits of incidents that never coalesced into a story. With that story, her insights and list of facts about death would have been all the more powerful and meaningful. I don't regret having read the book, because I enjoyed spending time with an exceptional person, but I am disappointed in how an incredible story was dumbed down and muffled.

I requested this book because I was intrigued by a "Death Doula" and their level of involvement in a death. I had never head the term before. I did not know the author was a psychic. As a person who has experienced over 15 deaths in my family I am very familiar with death as a companion in my life. The author gave some interesting insights to death and dying. As a Christian and a witness to deaths I have my own strong beliefs and knowledge of what truly happens at end of life as I have seen it and experienced it through my loved ones . I find it interesting that so many in the book claim contact with their loved ones through psychics. This has not been my experience and the repeated noted contacts in the book with the same outcome where not realistic to me. A interesting read but to be taken with a grain of salt . This is suited for those that use psychics.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

Interesting book and it was a bonus to me that the author wrote from the viewpoint of being a medium. Food for thought, and helpful for a culture that generally doesn't like to address this topic.
I received a free digital copy via NetGalley, however the opinions expressed are my own.

This was very different to anything I’ve ever read. Interesting all the same. Death is a subject not many people discuss like you could catch it. Being a death doula is very different

For this topic, I think its important to address potential skepticism first. Skeptics are naturally curious and ask questions and in turn question. There is nothing wrong with this. I am curious and I ask a lot of questions, too. Even if you’re s skeptic you can walk away from this book with A LOT of takeaways. Death is inevitable and we will all experience loss in our lives. You will ask questions, your children, and in your grief and sense of loss you may find yourself wondering if your loved one is at peace and try to take solace they are no longer in pain. It is more difficult to cope with loss when it is sudden and unexpected - someone in the peak of health, a tragic accident, or the loss of a young one. This is where many of the questions are, did they suffer, how could this happen...again, if you are a skeptic if you do not believe any of the “other side” woo-woo, the author works with hospice and provides a plethora of insights and great information that can prepare you for the loss of a loved one going through the painful end of life process, or help you better cope the next time you suffer the inevitable loss of a loved one.

Sometimes people feel they do not need to go visit a loved one at end of life “how would they know I’m there anyway...? They can’t hear me...I cannot help them...” if these thoughts have ever crossed your mind, as they have crossed mine, there are some great insights here and encouragement to visit, to sit, to speak, to assure them, tell them you love them, talk about their children or grandchildren and how well they are doing, reminisce on fun times you had with them. Hearing you will reassure them as well. In a bad accident myself, I was in the hospital and I would try so hard to stay awake to be strong for my family, but inevitably I would fade away and return (pain mediciation will do that to you), but as soon as I heard my family mention I fell asleep again I would immediately snap back to consciousness. When they reassured me they were there and not going anywhere and laughed and made jokes I felt so much better and “rested easier” even when I was fighting so hard to stay awake. I imagine it is much the same for our loved ones nearing end of life. I have lost many relatives (suddenly, unexpectedly, fatal/severe health conditions/complications, age), and death for me is never easy. As I get older I force myself to do those things we shy away from in our youth - I attend wakes, send sympathy cards, and when they are close to me, as hard as it is to be there and see their pain I take their hand, speak reassuringly, tell them I love them, because I know what it is like to lose loved ones suddenly and unexpectedly and I try to remain gracious that i have the opportunity to be with them now.

Despite death being a regular visitor in my life I still had many questions, and regardless of belief or faith, this book does an excellent job of addressing many of them. For me, the chapter on synchronicity hit so close to home. I meet or see so many people who I feel I “know from somewhere” or we meet and it is like we have been friends for years. I am, at heart, a student of life, for life. I continue to learn every day. I see many familiar patterns and if we can believe the body is a complex system in all the processes and neurons firing to keep us alive and thriving each day, and despite the fact of how amazing computing power has progressed and Moore’s Law continues to hold true, and that processing power and speed doesn’t light a candle to what the human brain can do.

Too often, being in the right place at the right time for an opportunity or to help someone I cannot prove with math and probability that it is synchronistic, however keeping a positive attitude and being open to helping others has always paid dividends in my life. I work in STEM and my mind is practical and logical, everything has a beginning, middle and end and we understand how it moves through those states.

Yet, while writing this I flipped back to the chapter on synchronicity and reflecting on the patterns in my own life, and what happened next will either amaze you, not surprise you, or you will think I made it up or chalk it up to coincidence, however it is the truth and if I could post a picture with this review I would show you the time stamp. As i looked up I see movement on my back deck. Sitting there is a black and white cat I have never seen before, however it looks very much like my own cat who passed away 6 years ago, Oreo. Black on top, white on the belly with white feet, white on part of his face and tip of his tail and green eyes. Just the other day my mom and I were commenting what a great cat he was and I said how much I missed him...this cat was black and white with white feet and green eyes, missing the white tip on tail and on face but otherwise so close to Oreo I cannot see how that is not synchrony that I was referring back to the chapter on this very topic, I brought up how much I missed him, and this cat has never showed up before. It was so uncanny, I took pics sent to my mom and she said cute cat that looks like Oreo!

The other day my car was hit in the parking garage by the construction crew. I was so worried because no liability, no cameras and $1000 deductible on insurance. I was beside myself with angst and worry, the garage was closed I had to wait until the next morning. I called in the morning prepared to argue my case, and lose. Instead, the manager was bright and chipper as always she said do not worry we will take care of it. I was incredulous, do you need me to fill out paperwork, send pictures, file a police report, do you need to review tapes (if there are indeed any cameras), something?! No, she assured me, a few other cars had been damaged as part of the construction, obtain repair estimates and bring to the office. Ever the skeptic, I asked if we needed a paper trail, should I file paperwork, fill out a form, send pics, or an email confirming our conversation. She said would do 1 better she would SEND ME an email confirming the details! A colleague in another garage had damage to paint based on work in the garage and she has been fighting it for months....I thanked God for my good fortune and requested if there was anyone that needed help, send them my way and I will pay it forward. My eyes are open and my ears are listening. And in the synchronicity of the moment this cat appeared. I paused to take pictures, send to my mom, and promptly put tuna on the deck. It was skittish and ran off, but I know whether the cat or another animal eats, it was hungry and will have a full belly on this cold night.

Patterns in life are all around us. Debra does an excellent job answering questions we all have about end of life. It can help you with easing your own mind, that of your loved ones and children. If you believe in a higher power, or that the patterns and “coincidences” in life, are more.... That death is not goodbye, but I’ll see you later; Everyone will find something to love or relate to in this book. Death is one of the few things science and rational thought cannot answer. I have read books where men and women of science and the medical field have had near death experiences and tried to prove out using the scientific method, much to their chagrin, and confirm life after death exists, where there is no suffering or pain. If you have dealt with death in your life it is very likely some of the author’s experiences are similar to your own and can provide validity or confirmation to what you similarly experienced.

Unfortunately, I'm a little disappointed by this book. I'm a death activist and historian, and so this seemed right up my alley, but I couldn't quite get on board the whole medium stuff. I hesitate to give the book a low rating just because my beliefs are different from the author's, but it can be alienating for people who don't share the same kind of Christian/afterlife beliefs. I was far more interested in Diamond's work as a death doula rather than as a medium, and I wish that that had been the bigger focus of the book. Also, Diamond doesn't offer much variation in her cases. They all sound the same and become redundant after a while.

For those who have views in line with the author, I can see how this book would be beneficial. For those who are looking for more of a personal look at a death doula's work, I would not recommend.

This book sheds an extraordinary light on the question of life and death in a spiritual way: what happens to our soul at end of life? Even if you don't believe in these kind of things, this book is still extremely helpful as it clues readers in on the process of actively dying. Death is a topic that lots of people try to stay away from, yet all of us will be confronted with sooner or later. There's a common set of experiences - internal as well as physical - that dying people go through. This book can broaden people's awareness of what exactly goes on in hospice and can bring comfort to those losing a loved one.

I thought that this was an interesting book by medium, Debra Diamond. I'm coming from a very death-positive mindset, so it may have spoken more to me than to other readers. While some repetition is in the writing, the messages have their own power to heal and transform the way the reader thinks of death and dying. I know that it will be a well-received book in my library, so I will definitely be purchasing it. Thank you so much!

DNF at 40%. I picked this up as I personally lost and are currently losing some family members and I was looking for something positive.
Unfortunately I struggled with the whole "medium" and "I can speak with the deceased".
Did anybody else notice that they basically say all the same?
It just didn't give me what I wanted from it, however that is certainly my personal opinion.

Thanks Netgalley for providing me with a copy.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Entering into life, we usually have some help.  While exiting life, sometimes we need a little help too. Debra Diamond is a Death Doula; someone who sits with the dying as a source of comfort and support.  Hospices are difficult places, and often family members are unable to spend every moment with their family member.  As a psychic and medium, Diamond is also in touch with the otherside as well.  This means she can see the transition from life into the spirit world, and she's learned many lessons on the way.

Diary of a Death Doula is a quick and easy read, but the subject material can be heavy. Diamond discusses her experiences with people as they pass, as well as the feelings of peace and connection they feel. Her writing is clear and to the point, without being too heavy handed. 

Diary of a Death Doula is available October 25, 2019.

Thanks to the publisher and net Gallery for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I selected this book because I wanted to hear the perspective of someone who helps usher people into eternal sleep- just as a midwife user babies into life. I was surprised that in all the stories in the book, only one of her patients is conscious, all the rest are non responsive. The book would be pretty short, just sitting quietly by the bedside of a person in a vegetative state. She knows next to nothing about them and seldom interacts with family members. “Fortunately” she is also psychic and can communicate with the nearly deceased and their spirit guides.
I’m very open to life after death and perhaps even psychic ability- but I just don’t believe this author because while each of us dies in our own time, there is no human variation to the stories. All of the dying say the EXACT same thing: Almost word for word.It’s peaceful here on this spiritual plane, and I want to go into the light. I feel surrounded by love. They see their spirit guides ( previously deceased loved ones) but not one of them comments on how much they missed their mother, or spouse. Also not a single person has one iota of care about what they are leaving behind- not a care for their grieving spouse , or regrets of something done or not done.
If this material was a magazine article, it would be interesting, but reading story after identical story just becomes a drag, and instead of lending credibility, actually detracts from it.

This is a fascinating read. It gives you insight into the work of a death doula. You need to be open minded in order to embrace this book.
I found this book comforting and wished that when my mother passed that there was a doula on hand.
Thank you to both NetGalley and John Hunt Publishing for my eARC in exchange for my honest review

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley!

Prior to this book, i had NEVER heard of a death doula.. so i was intrigued..

It's a very unique story.. informative too.

When I saw Diary of a Death Doula I had to read it. I am very death positive and wanted to learn more about what a Death Doula did and her role in the end of life process for the patients in the hospice she works in.
I found the book fascinating, especially since Debra is also a medium so she can see who is awaiting the dying on the next plane, and can converse with the person dying mentally.
I would highly reccomend this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and John Hunt Publishing for the ARC Copy. ( My review is my own opinion)