Search - An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination: A Memoir

It begins, "A child dies in this book: a baby. A baby is stillborn." My husband couldn't believe I wanted to read this book, but it was a beautiful tribute to the author's pregnancy, baby boy and subsequent pregnancy. We have been blessed and lucky with my three healthy pregnancies and our three healthy children, but my extended family and friends have been touched by stillbirth and miscarriage. I feel I might understand their feelings just a little bit more after reading this book, and I hope I can better respond to such news in the future. I think, if you are the mother of a stillborn baby, you may find this book comforting. "...it meant so much to me to hear it. It happened to me, too, meant: It's not your fault. And You are not a freak of nature. And This does not have to be a secret."

I think this book would be a benefit to parents who have suffered the loss of a child, especially a baby. The book is very descripitive of the horrible emotional and physical devastation that happens then. Other readers may be confused or even offended about the thoughts that the bereaved family feeels towards them, and in fact, may cause them to be very hesitant to offer the family much needed support and understanding. Stark, depressing, truthful, hopeful-yes; a pick-up-your-book-and relax-book? Probably not.

Just a few short notes:

First of all, McCracken may seem melodramatic if you have never experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth. I assure you that she is not. Keep an open mind as you read this.

Second, do not let anyone read this book who is (for the first time) pregnant/trying to get pregnant/thinking about kids. This book is the equivalent of all the horror stories people feel compelled to tell you (when you're pregnant). I hated that, and it seems tons of people don't care that they're scaring you half to death LOL.

Aside from those caveats, it is a really compelling book that goes from hope to hopelessness back to hope. I read this in one day.