Fertility Road Issue 03

FERTILITY ROAD
BOOKS
Our review of the latest fertility titles…
Frozen
- Mike Butcher
BAAF Books, £7.95
The journey through ‘Frozen’ can be detailed
quite succinctly within the opening few
pages. In the introduction we’re introduced
to Mike Butcher, a prolific writer and editor
through such titles as Judge Dredd, Red Dwarf
and 2000AD. I’m fearful of what may follow...
Then, on the opening page, there’s an
email from Mike’s wife, Lesley, to a friend,
dating back some years, in which she writes:
“Mike is getting really stressed with this
course of IVF. I’ve never seen him like this
before... People don’t think much of how
much it hurts the men, they only think of
the women.”
It’s a profound contrast, because it speaks
volumes of how IVF affects everyone,
enveloping all before them in its hope, be
that well placed or misplaced. Comic book
aficionado or nuclear scientist, the subject
is as pertinent to one man as it is another,
and this journey details the highs, the lows,
and the promise of future smiles.
‘Frozen’ proves that when IVF goes wrong
- not only with life-changing, but potentially
life-ending consequences – there are still
answers, even to the most painful of
questions. And the results are emotional...
Making Babies
- Theresa Miller
Available at Amazon.co.uk
How many couples going through the
process of baby-making ever feel they are
truly in control? Of course, part of the thrill
can be knowing that you are not, but for all
those tackling the more stressful footnotes
of fertility, ‘Fertile Thinking’ is an excellent
guide, one that wrestles back control and
empowers those wishing to call the shots.
Renowned expert Anya Sizer and author
Cat Dean team up to produce a unique,
practical guide, specifically aimed at women
experiencing difficulties. The premise here
is not on advice, support and counselling,
more in being able to remove those going
through the process from the hard and fast
facts – a journey from diagnosis of infertility
to a place where they can feel happier and
more in control of their lives.
Many are of the opinion that unless a
fertility book offers some radical new
blueprint or slant, then it’s much like the
one that has gone before, but this title really
is aiming at the everlasting psychological
imprint that the subject makes on us. The
question is whether that imprint becomes
a scar to be hidden away or an elegant
graceful tattoo to be celebrated.
Fertile Thinking
- Anya Sizer and Cat Dean
Infinite Ideas, £10.99
Away from the clinics and doctors’ surgeries,
Theresa Miller is a successful TV producer,
but her battles with creating babies have
tempted her away from the small screen
and into the pages of a debut book. This is
a touching and emotive passage through
IVF, bringing together 14 brave and heartfelt
journeys that sway the reader from
laughter to tears.
Because this isn’t one story, nor a scientific
matter-of-fact insight into the world of IVF,
there’s so much to be taken out of this. In
essence, Theresa has crafted a range of
real-life case studies, processes that will
touch the widest range of readers. From
those involved in IVF, those considering it,
families desperate to understand exactly
what is happening without wishing to pry,
and even doctors and health professionals
looking to get a greater steer on just what
it’s like being a patient, it’s a prolific book
that converses beautifully.
It draws no boundaries between heterosexual
and same-sex couples, and Theresa
links everything with a rich compassion
that makes this a worthy addition to current
crop of excellent fertility titles on the market.
WIN!
We have copies of the above titles to give away to 15 lucky winners, drawn at random.
To enter, simply email your name and contact number to competitions@fertilityroad.com,
stating your top two preferences of books. Entry closes on 24 December 2010.
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