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About What Was Lost: Twenty Writers on Miscarriage, Healing, and Hope
In this intimate anthology, twenty writers explore the grief and sadness—and hope—that living through a miscarriage can bring. Featuring such notable writers as Pam Houston, Joyce Maynard, Caroline Leavitt, Susanna Sonnenberg, and Julianna Baggott, among many others, About What Was Lost is the only book that uses honest, eloquent, and deeply moving narrative to provide muc...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
December 26th 2006
by Plume
(first published 2006)
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I wish I'd read this sooner! I put this book on hold at the library after my first miscarriage but then thought it would be too depressing. But after my second, and the constant reminders of the "what-could-of-been" I thought I should check it out.
I was amazed by how much reading women's stories of miscarriage helped me. It is always good to know that you aren't the only one who goes through something. I am grateful to all those women who where willing to share their experiences to help others...more
I was amazed by how much reading women's stories of miscarriage helped me. It is always good to know that you aren't the only one who goes through something. I am grateful to all those women who where willing to share their experiences to help others...more
I saw this book on the to-read list of a friend, and then saw it at the library. It's not a book I would have sought out on my own. I think I expected some aspects of it, but others were unexpected. This book about miscarriage is also laced with abortion and modern feminist convictions. I really feel for these womens' pain and suffering, but another strong feeling I have already had that was reinforced from this book is that fetuses are people from the point of conception--both biologically and...more
I found this book to be extremely comforting as I processed my own miscarriage. When I first started reading the introduction, I felt like I was getting the news from the doctor all over again and had to close the book. After that, I was able to read through the stories without many tears; the emotion I felt most was gratitude. After reading this book, I feel less isolated and alone. I realize that that there are a number of women who have gone through the exact type of miscarriage that I have,...more
Jessica Berger Gross has assembled a remarkable collection of essays by women, many of whom are well-known authors, who have endured miscarriage. Although there are many differences in the situations, one strong common thread resounds; women grieve deeply after pregnancy loss. It is past time for this profound grief to be openly acknowledged and discussed.
Many of the essays also share the grief experienced by fathers. Julianna Baggott and David Scott describe their miscarriage through a written...more
Many of the essays also share the grief experienced by fathers. Julianna Baggott and David Scott describe their miscarriage through a written...more
Hmmm, such a jumble of emotional response to this book. Some pro-lifers would be offended by a book recounting the loss that comes with miscarriage obviously written by pro-choicers, but I actually appreciated it. Though I found it a bit puzzling that, especially those who suffered a miscarriage after previously undergoing an abortion didn't (at least in their writing) acknowledge how similarly their bodies (dare I say mourned), hmm I'll go with reacted then. But since the world (or at least par...more
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Well...I also wouldn't recommend this book to people who are extremely pro-life, or similar folks. I gained a lot from reading about other peoples experience with miscarriage, and somehow found it comforting. But, it also did upset me, or at least disturb me, how many of those authors had thought about an abortion or actually had one. With that said, I also think that it is very telling how deeply all those women grieved even those who didn't want their babies. I guess that only shows what a dis...more
This was a great collection of women's experiences with miscarriage. It was great to hear my feelings are not just my own, though I hate that others experience it. I sometimes do not voice my true feelings on some of it, because I know people will not take it well, but I liked this book.
The only difficult part for me, is many of the women seem to be okay with abortion, but that is just a personal difference. They were all still heartbroken to have miscarried.
The only difficult part for me, is many of the women seem to be okay with abortion, but that is just a personal difference. They were all still heartbroken to have miscarried.
May 14, 2012
Courtney
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Shelves:
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autobiographies,
female-authors,
feminism-and-gender-studies,
literature-modern,
psychology,
religion-and-theology,
sexuality,
chick-lit,
essays-and-speeches,
z-21st-century-00s,
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numb3rs
1) Introduction: Behind the Bathroom Door; Gross, Jessica Berger
2) The First Baby; Leavitt, Caroline
3) Misconceptions; Buchanan, Andrea J.
4) Twins; Sonnenberg, Susanna
5) Mother of Three, Two Children Short; Maynard, Joyce
6) "I Went Out Full"; Bazelon, Emily and Dahlia Lithwick
7) Pregnancy and Other Natural Disasters; Houston, Pam
8) Miscarried; Gross, Jessica Berger
9) What I Wasn't Expecting; Marshall, Jen
10) Risky Business; Johnson, Rebecca
11) Unplanned; Jernigan, Jessica
12) The Missing; Hall, R...more
2) The First Baby; Leavitt, Caroline
3) Misconceptions; Buchanan, Andrea J.
4) Twins; Sonnenberg, Susanna
5) Mother of Three, Two Children Short; Maynard, Joyce
6) "I Went Out Full"; Bazelon, Emily and Dahlia Lithwick
7) Pregnancy and Other Natural Disasters; Houston, Pam
8) Miscarried; Gross, Jessica Berger
9) What I Wasn't Expecting; Marshall, Jen
10) Risky Business; Johnson, Rebecca
11) Unplanned; Jernigan, Jessica
12) The Missing; Hall, R...more
I needed this book. There's so much solace in finding that you aren't alone, in knowing your life will go on and you'll feel some semblance of normalcy again. While each story was as varied as it's author, the central theme ties them to one another: losing a baby causes immeasurable heartache.
Some of the stories were inspirational, but many were not helpful for someone who not only suffered miscarriage but also infertility. Several of the writers had abortions prior, the pregnancies were unwanted, etc. Those were hard to read.
Parts of this book are not for people who are pro-life or are still angry about the death of their baby. There is a story in here by a woman who decided to have an abortion, and miscarried the night before. As you might imagine, as a pro-life person who just went through an excruciating loss, I shook with rage and fury that this person was allowed to include her story. That aside, one in particular was almost just like my own experience. In some ways, I'm glad I got to see my baby's face, becaus...more
Thought it is a sad topic, I was surprised that so many people's stories are so similar to each other and to mine. It was nice to finally read stories of people who have been through this experience that so few are willing to talk about.
One of the most candid, poignant collections of writing on the topic.
This book helped me so much. I'm so glad it was written.
The essays in this book are heartbreaking, heart-warming, and touching.
Just what I needed during a rough time....
Lovely and helpful
Himpunan catatan 18 orang penulis yang berkongsi pengalaman kisah duka mereka yang pernah kehilangan kandungan. Isu ini jarang diketengahkan dalam bentuk buku walhal di luar sana cukup banyak cerita yang boleh dikongsi dan dijadikan iktibar bersama. Pengakuan jujur mereka membuatkan kita semakin sedar betapa kita hanyalah manusia yang hanya mampu mentadbir. Sesungguhnya Allah itu Maha Mentakdir...
I found this book comforting after my loss. It was helpful to know I wasn't alone in my grief. While not everyone will be able to relate to all the stories, there is probably at least one that will feel familiar and help you heal.
This is a must read for women who have ever thought about pregnancy. Even if you haven't it will help you to relate to your women friends- so many of whom have gone through some sort of pregnancy trauma.
I just experienced a miscarriage and needed to hear about the experiences of other women. For that, this book was perfect. It covered many angles and made me think as well as feel less alone.
it's hard to review a book like this - the stories are not pleasant to read but I did find it helpful to read about the range of womens' experiences - something hardly available anywhere else.
Really interesting and insightful stories from 20 authors who have experienced the pain of miscarriage. It was helpful to me in my current journey of loss.
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Jessica Berger Gross is a mother, writer, and yogi. Born in New York City, she grew up in Rockville Centre, Long Island. Jessica’s anthology, About What Was Lost: 20 Writers on Miscarriage, Healing, and Hope, was published in 2006 by Plume and awarded a 2007 National Parenting Publications Award (NAPPA). About What Was Lost was excerpted by Salon and featured in Cookie magazine and as an Elle.com...more
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