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eren_reads's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
3.5
This is a very important book however I found the writing quite lack lustre.
shween's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
I truly believe everyone should read this book
legendarycai's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I think it's really great to gain perspectives of the stories people have told and experiences they've gone through. I have learned a lot more on the subject and feel more better prepared to speak on it in the future.
brothena's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
5.0
I think this is blessedly the last work-adjacent book I'd put on hold at the library, do not remember how I heard of it, but consumed on audio. It's hard to review a book like this-- it's not a fun hang, but does an incredible job at humanizing this topic through affecting personal stories. Also a fun reminder that the American healthcare system and politics are insane.
daumari's review against another edition
5.0
A crucial book, and one that was already in my library pile when the Supreme Court decided to not block Texas's SB-8. I strongly recommend this.
One in four American women will have an abortion at some point in their lives (studies did not account for trans and NB people), so statistically everyone knows someone who's had one. If you're thinking to yourself you don't, hi, it's me, I'm one of the ones you know. Abortion access has become a plank of the religious right, and often the voices missing from the conversation are the people who've actually had the procedure done. You're the Only One I've Told covers the accounts of at least 17 people who've had abortions (the number is slightly higher as some chapters include other stories that were made in a similar situation). As Dr. Shah notes in the introduction, there's strength in the camaraderie of being vulnerable with others who've made the same decision, but at the same time we shouldn't have to tell our stories. Those of us who speak up are often lauded as brave or courageous, and on one hand we should get to the point where it's not necessarily a 'heroic' thing to just go and have a procedure but due to the hostility in this polarized climate, it really is brave to simply talk about it.
There's some accounts from my home state, where conservatives run all branches and the infighting is between traditional Republicans and far-right extremists. That people need to travel out of state for access is a horror we've allowed to continue. So many hoops are arbitrary: waiting periods, time limit restrictions, forcing health care providers to read a state-sponsored script that does not include accurate information. We do not question people getting other procedures that have higher risks, but because of America's regressive attitudes towards sex abortion is one of the most legally scrutinized procedures. And, when we, the people who've had them want to talk about it, we often can't because who knows if it'll affect our relationships, our jobs, etc. Like Dr. Shah, mentioning mine often opens the door to other people telling me their story, but one that they've never really told anyone else and it feels like an odd kind of secret society.
We exist. We all made extremely personal decisions. Who are you to question them?
One in four American women will have an abortion at some point in their lives (studies did not account for trans and NB people), so statistically everyone knows someone who's had one. If you're thinking to yourself you don't, hi, it's me, I'm one of the ones you know. Abortion access has become a plank of the religious right, and often the voices missing from the conversation are the people who've actually had the procedure done. You're the Only One I've Told covers the accounts of at least 17 people who've had abortions (the number is slightly higher as some chapters include other stories that were made in a similar situation). As Dr. Shah notes in the introduction, there's strength in the camaraderie of being vulnerable with others who've made the same decision, but at the same time we shouldn't have to tell our stories. Those of us who speak up are often lauded as brave or courageous, and on one hand we should get to the point where it's not necessarily a 'heroic' thing to just go and have a procedure but due to the hostility in this polarized climate, it really is brave to simply talk about it.
There's some accounts from my home state, where conservatives run all branches and the infighting is between traditional Republicans and far-right extremists. That people need to travel out of state for access is a horror we've allowed to continue. So many hoops are arbitrary: waiting periods, time limit restrictions, forcing health care providers to read a state-sponsored script that does not include accurate information. We do not question people getting other procedures that have higher risks, but because of America's regressive attitudes towards sex abortion is one of the most legally scrutinized procedures. And, when we, the people who've had them want to talk about it, we often can't because who knows if it'll affect our relationships, our jobs, etc. Like Dr. Shah, mentioning mine often opens the door to other people telling me their story, but one that they've never really told anyone else and it feels like an odd kind of secret society.
We exist. We all made extremely personal decisions. Who are you to question them?
literarylifter89's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
reading_redhead_106's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0