karak's review against another edition
2.0
Three female writers become friends in their late 30's, early 40's. They each decide to be a single mother because time is running out on them. Each is self-centered in her own special way.
Also, at times, this book starts to seem like a paid advertisement for Clearblue Fertility Monitor. Lots of very specific name dropping for this fertility monitor.
Also, at times, this book starts to seem like a paid advertisement for Clearblue Fertility Monitor. Lots of very specific name dropping for this fertility monitor.
shs111's review against another edition
4.0
Are guys supposed to like this book? Well, I did. Interesting premise, believable, nice way of bringing the reader into the story. I understand that it may not appeal to everyone, but I'm sure glad I found this gem.
mayalaurent's review against another edition
3.0
This is a true story about three friends, Carey, Beth and Pam who are nearing the age of 40 and want to become mothers. Each chapter is written by one of the women and the chapters go back and forth between the stories they share, together and separately.
The main connecting piece with these three friends is their desire to become mothers even though they are single. They all make decisions at different times that they will go the sperm donor route. Each one ends up getting pregnant by a different means and then decides to pass on the sperm donation to another one of the friends who is desiring to become a mom. Each woman finds love and a child.
Some of the stories that were shared were very raw. Everything from being blind-sided from a divorce to miscarriages hitting these women as they pursue their motherhood dreams. Each woman finds support in wonderful ways through their friendships.
It was an interesting true story but one that I had a hard time connecting with on some levels. First being, they are East coast women who are able to jet set off to all kinds of vacations and take off on outdoor adventures. I can't connect with that as I don't have the means to just get away as they did, a lot. I also wanted to feel more of the emotions they went through in the process of becoming mothers and the heartache they had as they hit so many stumbling blocks but the way it was written left out some of that emotion for me.
Favorite Quotes from the Book:
But the moral I take from this story is: So what? Your institution owes you nothing. It is not your family. It doe not care if you help create humanity's next generation; in fact, it might well prefer you didn't. Beyond a brief maternity leave, it has no obligation to support you, In fact, you become less valuable if your new responsibilities limit your ability to go anywhere at any time. As a new mother, I asked for an accommodation. Let me be more honest: I hoped for kindness. But institutions, of course, are not about kindness, though individual managers may try.
We learn from loving our children that none of them is perfect, but that they are the wellsprings of the deepest, truest love-and it is such a short jump to the fact that we all are children, and all worthy of love even in the depths of our imperfection.
Maintaining friendship requires work, but the very best kind. There are so many things we give each other: laughter, companionship, unyielding support, emergency childcare, prescription drugs, advice, our hearts, in ways we never give to men.
Carey described how her family is like a closed electrical circuit. I know the feeling. My own power dims when something is wrong with Emma or Mark - a runny nose, a disappointment at work - and shines brighter in their moments of joy - a new word or a beautiful photograph.
The main connecting piece with these three friends is their desire to become mothers even though they are single. They all make decisions at different times that they will go the sperm donor route. Each one ends up getting pregnant by a different means and then decides to pass on the sperm donation to another one of the friends who is desiring to become a mom. Each woman finds love and a child.
Some of the stories that were shared were very raw. Everything from being blind-sided from a divorce to miscarriages hitting these women as they pursue their motherhood dreams. Each woman finds support in wonderful ways through their friendships.
It was an interesting true story but one that I had a hard time connecting with on some levels. First being, they are East coast women who are able to jet set off to all kinds of vacations and take off on outdoor adventures. I can't connect with that as I don't have the means to just get away as they did, a lot. I also wanted to feel more of the emotions they went through in the process of becoming mothers and the heartache they had as they hit so many stumbling blocks but the way it was written left out some of that emotion for me.
Favorite Quotes from the Book:
But the moral I take from this story is: So what? Your institution owes you nothing. It is not your family. It doe not care if you help create humanity's next generation; in fact, it might well prefer you didn't. Beyond a brief maternity leave, it has no obligation to support you, In fact, you become less valuable if your new responsibilities limit your ability to go anywhere at any time. As a new mother, I asked for an accommodation. Let me be more honest: I hoped for kindness. But institutions, of course, are not about kindness, though individual managers may try.
We learn from loving our children that none of them is perfect, but that they are the wellsprings of the deepest, truest love-and it is such a short jump to the fact that we all are children, and all worthy of love even in the depths of our imperfection.
Maintaining friendship requires work, but the very best kind. There are so many things we give each other: laughter, companionship, unyielding support, emergency childcare, prescription drugs, advice, our hearts, in ways we never give to men.
Carey described how her family is like a closed electrical circuit. I know the feeling. My own power dims when something is wrong with Emma or Mark - a runny nose, a disappointment at work - and shines brighter in their moments of joy - a new word or a beautiful photograph.
inkstainedlife's review against another edition
4.0
Had I heard about it any other way, I would've been skeptical of this book's premise. Three women decide, individually, that they're prepared to become mothers on their own. The first orders eight vials of sperm from a sperm bank, and quickly falls in love and gets pregnant the old-fashioned way. As they pass the vials between them, the other two women do the same. Unlikely? Perhaps. True story? Yep.
I heard an interview with the authors on their publisher's podcast, and quickly went home and requested the book from the library. Carey Goldberg, Beth Jones and Pamela Ferdinand are all journalists, and their award-winning skills show in this beautifully written memoir. They brought me close to tears several times. Though I don't expect to ever take such monumental steps toward becoming a mother, myself, the search for love and family is universal. As these friends share their heartaches and successes, their stories encouraged me.
I heard an interview with the authors on their publisher's podcast, and quickly went home and requested the book from the library. Carey Goldberg, Beth Jones and Pamela Ferdinand are all journalists, and their award-winning skills show in this beautifully written memoir. They brought me close to tears several times. Though I don't expect to ever take such monumental steps toward becoming a mother, myself, the search for love and family is universal. As these friends share their heartaches and successes, their stories encouraged me.
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