 Essential for 'Fertiles' & 'Nonfertiles' alike |
| Review Date: July 4, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Canadian Midwife, |
I read Jenna's book in two hours last night, I couldn't put it down. It made me feel nauseous, terrified, relieved, validated, and as she so eloquently put it, just simply "sad for myself". It rolled me back through time, over the past seven bumpy years of my marriage that have been oh so similar to Jenna and Mike's story.
The most important thing that this book has done for me, and I hope for all those who come across it, is to FINALLY UNDERSTAND that infertility is a disease.
A disease. I woke up with that word in my mind this morning. I get it. It is not my fault, not my husband's, not the millions of things that I have wondered about over the years. Karma? No. A lack of positive thinking? No. Not enough organic food? No.
Exquistely painful and misunderstood? Yes.
Infertility is a disease and "The Empty Picture Frame" brings that fact public. This book will help to remove the stigma and taboo that are associated with infertility in North America and for that I am grateful.
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Must Read...
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| Review Date: June 13, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Alison, CA, USA |
This book is beautifully written, and it represents an honest account of what it feels like to endure the heartache of infertility and loss. This disease affects every aspect of your life, and it leaves you feeling isolated. In reading this book, you will realize that you are not alone. And even better, you can hand this book over to your friends and family to help them understand.
As someone who has dealt with infertility and loss, I can honestly say that this book is very touching. While my journey has been different, some of the author's experiences were word for word, the same as mine. She addresses the physical and emotional toll of infertility in a way that no doctor can.
If you know someone who is struggling with infertility, I would highly recommend reading this book. There are some great suggestions on how you can offer support.
Jenna and Mike: Thank you for sharing your story. I admire your courage. May your dreams of a family come true... |
Wow...such a moving story! A great infertility resource!
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| Review Date: January 29, 2008 |
| Reviewer: K. Bailey, |
I first saw Jenna on the Oprah Winfrey show. I immediately felt connected to her because of her struggle with infertility. I could totally understand her pain. She was the first person I had seen that I honestly felt I could relate to.
So when I saw that she had written a book about her story, I just had to buy it. This book is an amazing resource for infertility! It gives the full picture of what it's like to go through all the stages of infertility, from before "trying to conceive" all the way through many IVF attempts. Jenna has given the reader an inside glimpse into the life of an infertile.
The way she tells her story (along with her husband's two cents every so often) is so compelling. It really was hard to put down.
This book is not only a great resource to someone personally struggling with infertility but also to those who who know of someone else who is struggling with it.
After I finished the book I gave it to my mom so she could get a glimpse of what I was going through. And most importantly, so she could read the helpful hints Jenna talks about at the end of the book as to how to best support someone going through infertility. These suggestions are so dead on! I wish I would've given it to her years ago.
Overall, I just can't recommend this book enough! |
An absolute must read...
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| Review Date: June 20, 2007 |
| Reviewer: just us, Chicago, IL |
I, like many others that walk the infertility path, have read at least a dozen books on the topic. Not until now have I read something so close to my own private thoughts, feelings and insecurities. Between websites and TV I knew Jenna's full story would touch my heart, but I never expected to walk away feeling such a connection to someone I had never met. This book touched topics that many of us can't or don't talk about.
When I reached the end of this book, I immediately began to cry. Tears, not only for Jenna and Mike, but for the realization that there were others out there who felt the same range of emotions that we do. For the first time, in a long time, we were not alone.
Thank you Jenna and Mike, for sharing your personal, private journey with us. And thank you for writing ours. You've done a tremendous job. |
It's About Time
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| Review Date: May 17, 2007 |
| Reviewer: LA woman, |
| Jenna and Mike are incredibly brave for coming out of the shadows of infertility to tell their story. Together they've done a wonderful job of expressing their painful journey in a language that can be appreciated by those struggling with infertility and those who are trying to understand the pain felt through this process. I wish my doctor had given my family members this book to read when I was first diagnosed. They could have better understood what we were dealing with and maybe we could have avoided all of those cliche comments that have plagued me for the last few years of our struggle. After reading this book, I went to their website and read other women's stories. Jenna and Mike provide an invaluable education through their personal experience. |
Help for myself and my family!
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| Review Date: April 13, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Gary J. Shine, Gainesville, Florida United States |
| Struggling with infertility is challenging all by itself without the added emotional struggles that must be faced. In my personal situation I've found that not many people, even family members, can relate to or understand what I've been going through. Even a relative whose gone through IVF doesn't understand. I found that Jenna wrote this book not just for me, but for those who love me. Both myself and my husband breezed through the book and feel as if the stories are about us. My mom has also read it and developed a greater understanding of what we're going through. Next we'll have the family members who can't understand why we don't attend children's birthday parties or baby showers read it. Jenna gives such wonderful advice on all of these situations that make us feel so irrational...and reminds us we're not! This should be a MUST read for anyone who is just beginning their infertility journey or has been on the journey much too long. |
The best book on infertility I've read
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| Review Date: December 23, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Heidi B. Delvenne, Texas |
| I received this book just before my 2nd IVF treatment and read it in 2 days. Finally someone articulates what this experience is really like. I feel like Jenna is my best friend, my sister, even though she doesn't know me. We have a connection on a level that sometimes it feels like nobody else gets (but she doesn't even know it). If you are suffering from infertility this is a must read. No matter what stage you are in, you will know that you are not alone and there is a courageous person out there putting all her raw feelings down on paper to give us the courage to carry on. Her husband Mike adds a man's perspective as well. Pass this on to anyone who even knows someone who is going through infertility so they can gain a better understanding of what it is truly like to suffer from this ailment. If you buy only book on infertility make this the one. |
A must read! This book will reach out and make you feel!!!!
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| Review Date: May 24, 2007 |
| Reviewer: AJP, Boston area, MA |
If you have struggled with infertility, or know someone who is, this book is a must read!
This is not another typical book about the science of IVF or TTC...it is a memoir of a woman, Jenna with actual journal entries and contributions from her husband Mike. Their true story chronicles their journey to become parents...their hope, joy, loss, fears, and courage faced to get there. They did an amazing job of putting to paper all the raw emotions and suffering an infertile goes through. The last time I felt so many emotions at once I was facing my own unsuccessful IVF cycles. Anyone reading this book who has undergone any ART will surely relate. You will feel Jenna's pain and suffering no matter if you have been down this road or not. She is witty and sarcastic at times, but she is honest and soul baring as well. I found myself laughing out loud at parts...it sounds sad, but anyone who can relate to the big needle knows all the feelings that come with it.
I loved that Jenna has also written this with advice for those who know someone going through this journey. It's perfect for all the people in your life who'd like to support you but don't know how, or those who don't know what not to say. I am going to pass this book around to my family and friends...I only wish they could have read it sooner in my own journey.
Great job Jenna! |
A must-read for all infertiles as well as their friends and families
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| Review Date: September 11, 2007 |
| Reviewer: D. Morris, NJ |
I, like Jenna, am an IVF veteran who has endured many years of heartache and pain. I've read many books on the topic of infertility....humorous books, how-to books, scientific and technical books, etc, but I have never read a book on the topic that has touched my heart as Jenna's has. This book was so honest and raw with emotion...the real emotions that infertiles feel. Jenna did not try to sugarcoat infertility in any way, and I respect that and found it refreshing. Although I have never met Jenna personally, through her book, I feel like I know her well. Afterall, we are both veterans of the same war.
I've also passed this book on to some of my family members. Although they have been very supportive throughout this process, I really think they will be able to empathize even better after reading a fellow infertile's innermost thoughts and feelings on the daily struggles that make life so difficult for those on this journey.
I would recommend this book to anyone dealing with infertility. Whether you're a vet or a newbie to the journey, you will absolutely find this book helpful and you will realize that you're not alone.
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Thank you Jenna for writing this book!
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| Review Date: December 20, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Tanya McKee, California |
I cannot recommend this book enough. The day I received it from Amazon, I stayed up until 3 am to finish it in one sitting. I cried my eyes out the entire time. I plan on sharing it with my mom next, in hopes that we can learn to relate to one another. The author displayed incredible courage and strength in giving infertility a voice. I couldn't agree more that infertility is less about the statistics, and more about the person. This is a must read for anyone struggling with infertility and the family and friends who struggle to understand.
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