About What Was Lost: Twenty Writers on Miscarriage, Healing, and Hope

By Jessica Gross and Jessica Berger Gross

Book Overview

In this intimate anthology, twenty writers explore the grief and sadness--and hope--that living through a miscarriage can bring. Featuring such notable writers as Pam Houston, Joyce Maynard, Caroline Leavitt, Susanna Sonnenberg, and Julianna Baggott, among many others, About What Was Lost is the only book that uses honest, eloquent, and deeply moving narrative to provide much-needed solace and support on the subject of pregnancy loss. Today, as many as one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage. And yet, many women are surprised to find that instead of simply grieving the end of a pregnancy, they feel as if they are mourning the loss of a child. Taken aback by their sorrow, they seek solace in similar perspectives--only to find that a silence and lingering stigma surrounds the topic. Revealing a wide spectrum of experiences and perspectives, this powerful collection offers comfort and community for the millions of women (and their loved ones) who experience this all-too-common kind of loss every year.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452287995
• ISBN13: 9780452287990
• Release Date: December 2006
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Through the healing process

Pregnancy loss is unbelievably painful, and no two losses are exactly alike. This book helped me through my grieving process and I suspect it has the potential to help many others. Whether you are in the mist of your own grief, or are trying to understand someone else going through it, this book provides vast insight and hope.

Sharings from 20 women

20 different sharings on miscarriage. Some had successful pregnancies and some didn't. Some women made the difficult decision to abort their pregnancy. Excellent variety of lifestyles and personal sharings.

wonderful book...

this book helped me so much after the loss of my son. i would recommend it to anyone.

Powerful and Personal

This anthology is a powerful read for all women, those who have experienced miscarriage themselves and for those who have not. It is a celebration of women, their strength, and their common experience. Having suffered two miscarriages myself, this was the first time I have read something that put so many of my feelings into words and validated them for me. In an experience that can often make you feel all too alone, this book can help you to realize that you are not. Thank you for writing so beautifully on such an important topic.

Wonderful!

About What Was Lost begins a discussion that is long overdue. So many women suffer in silence after a miscarriage...How wonderful that we can now turn to the pages of Jessica's anthology for much needed support. These stories a varied and provide different perspectives but all speak to the sacredness of womanhood. Excellent!