Scan barcode
aritrow's review against another edition
3.0
A bit too... much. I can’t explain it but it wasn’t my favorite.
emilycc's review against another edition
4.0
I don't think of myself as a person who enjoys memoir, but between Maggie Nelson and this lovely book about assisted reproduction, I might be changing my mind? This is less theoretical and more journalistic than Nelson. Boggs draws from not only scientific research about human and animal reproduction, but also sociology, psychology, and literature to frame and understand her own experience with infertility. The more personal essays are especially moving and insightful. I enjoyed the chapters that investigate the broader landscape of assisted reproduction a little less, but I appreciated that Boggs investigates racial and socioeconomic bias in the treatment of infertility and also examines the additional hurdles faced by would-be LGBTQ parents. It's a big, inclusive approach - she also talks about women who are childless by choice - that's still firmly cemented her personal desire to be a parent.
Highly recommended for anyone thinking about pregnancy, parenting, writing, etc.
Highly recommended for anyone thinking about pregnancy, parenting, writing, etc.
alfuhs's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED this book! It's very relatable, informative, and insightful, but it's also a narrative - not just facts on facts. For anyone dealing with infertility and feeling adrift, I think this is a fantastic read.
janessamann's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful, thoughtful book about fertility and motherhood.
cenielie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
This was really informative and helpful to hear someone’s experiences with infertility without delving into the world of message boards. it ends in a pretty optimistic note.
bookash's review against another edition
5.0
https://acoveyofbooks.wordpress.com/2021/02/16/the-art-of-waiting-by-belle-boggs/
I really loved this book. Check out my blog to find out why!
I really loved this book. Check out my blog to find out why!
kristin_roemer's review against another edition
3.0
Part sociology book, part memoir, I thought this book was interesting enough. I don’t know if it’s because I’m 8 months pregnant or if the whole structure of the book was a little flawed, but I had a hard time keeping track of personal anecdotes and historical anecdotes. My favorite part was the discussion of “baby fever” and while the IVF was interesting, I thought Matt and Doree’s podcast does a better job of making it relatable. Also not cool to harp on how sucky it would be to have twins so that’s why she didn’t want more than one egg implanted....
em_reads_books's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating read - lovely personal memoir crossed with broad-reaching journalism. Like a lot of health and reproductive topics, this is one I know affects a ton of people but I don't know a whole lot about it because it's often too personal/emotional/shameful for folks to discuss openly. I know some friends have been through infertility and some version of ART and...that's about all I know. So I picked this up hoping to understand that better and learn a thing or two about the science. That, and because I'd heard her writing is lovely, and it is!
What she really gets across is how impossible and open-ended the choices involved in creating a "Plan B family" are, and how brand-new and uncertain this branch of medicine and public policy is. She talks about her personal choices, and how they go from whether/when to have a baby to gradually exploring option after option for making that happen, how to pay for it, whether to involve other people (via surrogacy or adoption), how she feels compelled to choose something. She unpacks the rational, ethical, and emotional factors going into these, and you quickly see how none of it is clear-cut.
She knows that even having most of the options she has is a function of her privilege, and discusses how other folks are systematically deprived of those choices - from forced sterilization in North Carolina, to laws designed to exclude same-sex couples from the process, to the more subtle/unconscious discrimination pushing people of color and less educated people away from ART. And she gets into some of the history and public perception of the process as well. It's far-reaching but not very in depth on any particular topic, definitely more of a memoir than a comprehensive look.
Overall, it's a candid and empathetic read, and fairly quick, and I'd recommend it to anyone who uses science and technology to manage their fertility.
What she really gets across is how impossible and open-ended the choices involved in creating a "Plan B family" are, and how brand-new and uncertain this branch of medicine and public policy is. She talks about her personal choices, and how they go from whether/when to have a baby to gradually exploring option after option for making that happen, how to pay for it, whether to involve other people (via surrogacy or adoption), how she feels compelled to choose something. She unpacks the rational, ethical, and emotional factors going into these, and you quickly see how none of it is clear-cut.
She knows that even having most of the options she has is a function of her privilege, and discusses how other folks are systematically deprived of those choices - from forced sterilization in North Carolina, to laws designed to exclude same-sex couples from the process, to the more subtle/unconscious discrimination pushing people of color and less educated people away from ART. And she gets into some of the history and public perception of the process as well. It's far-reaching but not very in depth on any particular topic, definitely more of a memoir than a comprehensive look.
Overall, it's a candid and empathetic read, and fairly quick, and I'd recommend it to anyone who uses science and technology to manage their fertility.