An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination: a memoir

Title: An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination: a memoir
Author: Elizabeth McCracken
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 188
Yearly Count: 61

In this AMAZING memoir Elizabeth McCracken tells her story, the life she has and the one that she lost. A book for those gone, so early in their little lives that it would seem they were almost a figment of our imagination. Written by a woman who knows what it feels like, what it looks like and how it is all perceived. What? A stillbirth, the loss, the pain, grief, the lists of firsts, of places never returned to, of a child that faded way before he was even seen.

McCracken's emotion in this book is not theatrical, over dramatic, or written about in a long prose of self-mope. It is a book of reality, of memories, and memories that should have been, but were not and of the life that continues and the loss that is still felt even when others forget.
If I had a stillbirth, this is the book I would grab, and if you haven't this is still the book I would recommend. I do not know this pain or the suffering that surrounds the death of a child, of one not even allowed to experience the first breath. An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination speaks soothing while raw words, from the depths of honesty inside McCracken's stunning pen-shaped-heart.

As powerful as Elisabeth McCracken's memoir is, it is endearing, hopeful, sad and unique. This is the story of a woman, and her husband in a country not their own. The story of a baby that was not born, and his brother (born later) who would not ever take his place, but who would fill his parent's hearts with joy, even if they would never forget their sweet Pudding (that is what they endearingly named their first child). In reading it I felt encouraged, and uplifted, the way Elizabeth puts it down really mostly makes you think. It makes you see things in a new light, and from the angle of someone who has gone through loss. Ya gotta read it!!

Audio Excerpt by Elizabeth McCracken
Chapter Excerpt An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination

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Surviving Ben's Suicide: A Woman's Journey of Self-Discovery

Title: Surviving Ben's Suicide: A Woman's Journey of Self-Discovery
Author: C.Comfort Shields
Pages: 233
Yearly Count: 53
Publisher: iUniverse

I was shockingly mistaken in my perceptions about this book. I thought it would be a plain self-helpish, non-fictiony slow, boring to read book, but I loved the way C. Comfort Shields wrote this as a literary memoir! I read every page of this, and held on to it tight. I finished it in a day. Shields is an excellent writer, and I enjoyed her style and honesty throughout the painful process which she writes about. Once I was into this one, I realized just that it really wasn't as distant from me as I had thought. My father-in-law committed suicide, but that was about 4 years before I met and fell in love with my hubby (B). After reading this memoir I understand much better all the pain and guilt that would come from such an abrupt- but not entirely surprising ending to a loved one's life. However I hope to never know how it would feel to have this happen so close to me.

When life ends by one own's hand there are so many questions that come up, so much pain, guilt, suffering and loneliness. A feeling that being all alone, maybe you are responsible, you MUST be responsible. I was so interested in the amount of care Shields put into explaining the sickness, the disease, the illness that lead up to Ben committing suicide. The irate phone calls of blame, the pushing away and pulling in causing Comfort to feel the burden as a harsh reality.

This is not a self- help book, well, it is and it isn't. It is a memoir of a woman who experienced the death of a boyfriend, the suicidal death. Shields is changed through this blow, learning more about herself, more about life and death and relationships. I admire Surviving Ben's Suicide in that it has gone where no other book has gone before, in being the first literary memoir about this topic. Suicide is hard to understand, but even harder to cope with. This is an excellent book to take with you on the journey. An Excellent read for anyone, not just those who have had a loved one commit suicide.

Author C. Comfort Shields Website

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