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Choice: True Stories of Birth, Contraception, Infertility, Adoption, Single Parenthood, and Abortion | 
 enlarge | Author: Karen E. Bender And Nina De Gramont
Creators: Karen E. Bender, Nina De Gramont
Publisher: MacAdam/Cage
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy New: $9.15
You Save: $5.85 (39%)
New (15) Used (12) from $6.25
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 186280
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 349
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.7 x 6.4 x 1
ISBN: 1596920629
Dewey Decimal Number: 810.8354
EAN: 9781596920620
ASIN: 1596920629
Publication Date: October 20, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
CHOICE explores the one of the most polarizing political issues of our time reproductive choice. CHOICE attempts to raise the discourse on reproductive choice, which often devolves to clichés and name-calling, by posing the question--what is it like to make any sort of reproductive choice? What is it truly like to use birth control, the morning after pill, use a sperm bank, have an abortion, adopt a child, give a child up for adoption, bring a pregnancy to term? In these 22 stunningly honest essays, writers describe their experiences making some of these decisions, as well as many others. Established writers such as Francine Prose, Jaquelyn Mitchard, Pam Houston, Carolyn Ferrell, Ann Hood, Deborah Macdowell, and Sarah Messer contribute essays, along with emerging writers such as Kimi Faxon Hemingway, Stephanie Anderson, and Ashley Talley. The essays in CHOICE explore the complexities inherent in every reproductive decision, whether it is to choose to have a child or terminate a pregnancy; the guiding philosophy of the book is that this issue is too complex and individual to be legislated, and the writers honesty about their experiences will humanize this issue, no matter what the reader s stand on it.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 Amazing March 17, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book was incredibly honest, heartfelt, and moving. The diversity of stories and voices kept me interested and the emotional power of these stories truly affected me. I found myself crying in the middle of class as I read this book (whilst pretending to take notes and pay attention in class). I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
Everyone should read this amazing book February 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I can't imagine how anyone could remain unengaged by the stories in this book. I was moved almost to tears (and often actually to tears) by all of these women's powerful, beautifully written stories. I was given this book by a friend who wanted to buy it for all of her friends, it was given to her by a friend who also bought it for all of her friends, and I plan to recommend this book to everyone I know as well.
 somewhat disappointing... February 10, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
I was eager to read this book after reading a favorable review in my local paper. As a woman who had experienced most of the topics covered in the book, I was looking for some insight from other women regarding these major events. However, I found the book rather flat and unengaging. A few of the essays really drew me in (Janet Mason Ellerby, Sarah Messer, and Kimi Faxon Hemingway all wrote powerful essays), but for the most part, I remained unmoved by their stories. I would recommend this book, but I would say, take it out of the library (sorry, Amazon!).
Incredible, powerful book December 20, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is absolutely one of the most emotionally powerful, though-provoking, conviction-challenging books I have read in a number of years. I only wish I could give it six stars.
It is NOT, as some might think, all about the choice to have an abortion. It is about all the emotional, mental, and moral complexities of ANY pregnancy, and the desires, decisions, fears, and longings that go along with a pregnancy. There are stories of women who gave their children up for adoption, and have suffered the pain of wishing they could have kept their children for the rest of their lives. There are women who recount the histories of women in their family who did not have the choices that they themselves now have when faced with an abusive relationship, a pregnancy where the resulting child would be unlikely to survive, having absolutely no money to be able to take care of a child conceived despite carefully using birth control. There are women who had to choose between dying themselves and attempting to carry a much-wanted pregnancy to term. There are women who chose to become single mothers despite pressure to have an abortion or give up the baby for adoption. There are women who knew their fetus might be abnormal, but chose to have the baby, come what may. There are stories of women who had abortions, both legal and illegal, who had severe medical consequences as a result. There are women who had an abortion for an early pregnancy when they could not carry it to term, and are thankful for that choice because it gave them a chance at a better, happier life - and more children that they could care for and support - later in life. Women who miscarried, and have dealt with the pain of this loss. Women who adopted from another country, acutely aware of the terrible circumstances that must have led to the bio mother of their child having to give up her baby. Women who miscarried much-wanted children. Women who knew deep down that they were not meant to be mothers, and decided to not have children.
It is about choices - ALL the choices - associated with so many different pregnancy situations.
None of these situations are without feelings, without an awareness of other options or possibilities. Many of the women in these essays made decisions that they knew they had to make, but were gut-wrenching in the extreme. Many women in these essays support having ALL options available for pregnancies, even if they themselves strongly disagree with some of the options. In thinking forward to having my own family in the future and having never been pregnant (yet) myself, I have the utmost respect for most of the women in these essays in making these difficult choices (regardless of what choice they made) and strongly facing up to the consequences. Do not look for this book to be an unabashed endorsement of abortion - it is NOT that at all. That would be too simplistic to represent the reality of most women's situations when faced with pregnancy.
I believe that this book should not only be required reading for teen and young adult girls/women, but also for the boys/men too. I would also strongly suggest it for women's studies classes looking at reproduction.
I have already recommended it to several friends - one who appears to be infertile and is working on adopting from another country; another who is living with her boyfriend and will probably marry him, but may or may not be ready to be a mother now should she get accidentally pregnant; to a woman who got easily pregnant with her first two children, and conceived through a fairly foolproof form of birth control for her third.
Choices.
Even if you assume you will disagree with many of the decisions made here, pick up the book anyway. You may be surprised at the empathy you have for the women in these essays - and that you may even have something in common with them.
Paperback Edition November 30, 2007
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
There is also a paperback edition of this book which ships immediately:
Choice: True Stories of Birth, Contraception, Infertility, Adoption, Single Parenthood, and Abortion
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