Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Blog Tour: An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken



be sure to see my giveaway at the bottom of this post!!

rating: 5/5
genre: memoir

I remember being in the hallway at church once talking with a friend who was pregnant and nearly due. While chatting, another woman came by and told my pregnant friend about how the only time she went overdue during a pregnancy, her baby was a stillborn. I was so offended and shocked that she would bring it up right then - obviously distressing my pregnant friend.

I wish I'd read this book before I had that experience. My view of that entire exchange has shifted.

Elizabeth and her husband were living a carefree and idyllic life in France. She finds out she is going to have a baby and this first pregnancy was spent in pastoral bliss. Life comes to a shattering halt, however, when her son is stillborn. We wade with Elizabeth through her grief and through the process of mourning not only the boy she lost, but the life together they might have had.

The writing is so crisp and with such biting wit. I had not anticipated a narration of such a somber subject to be so clever and tender. One minute I am weeping and the next I am laughing out loud. She guides us from her innermost raw emotions out into the world she had to navigate and the people she had to interact with after her baby died. Her experience validates the whole range of fears and hopes, anger and sorrow that one can experience when pregnant and when dealing with loss. Even those coping with a different kind of loss can find solace and communion:
...surely when tragedy has struck you dumb, you should be given a stack of cards that explains it for you. When Pudding died, I wanted my stack. I still want it. My first child was a stillborn, it would say on the front.
An Exact Replica of a Figment of my Imagination takes us to a different side of pregnancy literature - providing a voice and a memory for those women who have likewise lost a child and carried that burden of grief. If I was standing with that friend now, the one who had lost her baby, I would hug her and sit down and listen to her story.


IT'S A CONTEST!!

FRIENDS - If you would like to WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK (courtesy of the publisher) please leave a comment. If you put up a post on your blog about my contest (and link back to THIS POST), I'll enter your name again!! Make sure you leave another comment to let me know you've done it :) I'll announce the winner on Oct 7th.


***Follow along on the tour!! Your next stop is Antonette of Books in Every Room Please check it out!!***


Other stops:

40 comments:

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

There was a little piece of this book in Oprah a month or so back. It was that wonderful mix of pain and pleasure that so deeply reflects life.

I've added it to my wishlist.

Anonymous said...

Don't enter me, since I have the book. Great review. I think Elizabeth McCracken was brave to share her story with the whole world.

Anonymous said...

This brings back memories of my own stillborn son. It sounds like a thoughtful journey through the aftermath. I'm putting it on my to-read list.

cindysloveofbooks said...

That was such a great review. The book is on my TBL. Please count me in on the giveaway.

cindysloveofbooksarcATgmailDOTcom

Robin said...

What a great review. Sounds like a book to read. I will pass on this book title to others.

Laura said...

I would love a copy of this book, I enjoy a good read that puts a new perspective of life in my mind.

Sara said...

Please enter me into the contest. I have posted a link to your blog on mine:

www.smbooks.blogspot.com

Thank You,
Sararush(at)hotmail(dot)com

Gwendolyn B. said...

I bumped into this blog tour by accident and have been "following" it backwards. It is quite an extraordinary event. Everyone is doing a beautiful job. I very much would like to read this book and appreciate the chance to win a copy. Elizabeth McCracken has been a favorite from way back.
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

S. Krishna said...

Don't enter me, but great review! Isn't it amazing how many emotions you felt, both happy and sad, reading this book?

Michelle... said...

I was taken to the whole new world or stillborns when my sister in law had a full term sillborn three years ago. Since then I have known 3 others who have had stillborns. It is such a sad time. It would be great to have a copy that I could read and possibly pass on to friends who have dealt with this.

Michelle... said...

Oh, I also put it on my blog. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I just read a review on this book earlier today and it sounds like a heartbreaking and beautiful story. I would really love to read this!
doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth

Antonette said...

Love your review!

Anita Yancey said...

Would love to read this book. Please enter me. Thanks!
ayancey@dishmail.net

Tiffany said...

Maybe I shouldn't want to read this, being 5 months pregnant, but it really sparks my interest. Please add me to your list :)

Deb said...

i just read a quick review of this book in a magazine and wondered if it was as good as that reviewer made out. i guess it is. :) thanks for the review!

bethany (dreadlock girl) said...

great review!!! I loved this book so much :)

I think my review freaked everyone out, you have so many comments here to win it,I didn't get ANY so I took down the giveaway :(

kamewh said...

What a wonderful review! I would love to read this book!

Ti said...

Please enter me. I have been hearing so much about this one.

thereedfamily[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Shooting Stars Mag said...

Please enter me. I'd love to read it. Sounds great.
I blogged about this as well:

http://shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com/2008/10/win-it-wednesday.html


-Lauren

Shooting Stars Mag said...

Please enter me. I'd love to read it. Sounds great.
I blogged about this as well:

http://shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com/2008/10/win-it-wednesday.html


-Lauren

Michelle said...

Goodness. I just had a baby girl and would be devistated.. Count me in on the giveaway. I would love to read the book...

Anonymous said...

Hi, Corinne.

Obviously I already have a copy of the book, since I'm on the tour, but I just had to stop by and say how much I loved this book.

It was a 5/5 for me too!

couplabz said...

Sounds like a good book. I'd love to read it.

couplabz said...

I posted on my blog too:

http://mcgrawland.blogspot.com/2008/10/book-blog.html

Sheri S. said...

I'd love to be entered for this book! Thanks!

preferred.stock at gmail dot com

Bunny B said...

This sounds like a gripping book! I'd love to read it! Thanks!

bunnybx at gmail . com

Bunny B said...

Blogged! bunnybx at gmail . com

Anonymous said...

I would love to read this book.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good read. Please enter me. Thank you. =)

- Carmen T
carmenalexistsang[at]gmail[dot]com

Young Family said...

I would love to have acopy of this book. Nine months ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy who was stillborn. I am always looking for things to read that help me understand my emotions.

Holly (2 Kids and Tired) said...

I've yet to see a negative review of this book! I really want to read it. Thanks for offering it as a giveaway.

Holly (2 Kids and Tired) said...

I blogged the giveaway too.

http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com/2008/10/giveaways.html

Rebekah E. said...

I would love to read this book. Please enter me.

Janene said...

what the heck, I just posted a comment about your review on goodreads, so can that count? :o)

photoquest said...

I have heard alot of good things about this book i would love to enter you contest.
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Anna said...

My sister went through the same thing as the author. She's due to give birth to her second son on the 7th. I'd love to be entered. Thanks!

--Anna
http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com
diaryofaneccentric[at]hotmail[dot]com

Elizabeth McCracken said...

Hi, Corinne (and anyone else who might still be reading)--

Thank you so much for this great post. If it makes you feel better, I, too, might have been appalled at someone bringing up a stillbirth in front of a pregnant woman, once upon a time!

many thanks,

Elizabeth (McCracken)

Corinne said...

Elizabeth - thanks so much for stopping by. You've written an amazing book :)

Kellie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
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