I'm so excited to be participating in the Take A Chance Challenge hosted by Jenners over at Find Your Next Book Here. She has come up with 10 fun and clever tasks that involve books, reading, and even a little writing. This is my blog entry for Challenge #1.
Here are the instructions for this particular challenge:
1. Random Book Selection
Go to the library. Position yourself in a section such as Fiction, Non-Fiction, Mystery, Children (whatever section you want). Then write down random directions for yourself (for example, third row, second shelf, fifth book from right). Follow your directions and see what book you find. Check that book out of the library, read it and then write about it. (If you prefer, you can do the same at a bookstore and buy the book!)
I went to my local library and followed the directions listed above. The section I chose was Biographies. After making up some random directions for myself, I ended up at the book Down Came The Rain - My Journey Through Postpartum Depression by Brooke Shields. I was immediately pleased with my find because I have always been a fan of Brooke Shields. She is beautiful, smart, funny, and just seems like a really genuine person.
The book details Brooke's journey through her difficulties conceiving a child as well as her extreme emotional struggles after her baby was born. The story unfolds as if you are having a conversation with one of your girlfriends. She is frank and direct. At times, however, you see her sense of humor come through. Never having experienced postpartum depression myself, it was scary to learn how unexpectedly it can develop (and, how crippling it can actually be). Here, in this excerpt from the book, Brooke describes how she simply did not feel a connection to her baby girl:
"I knew deep inside I must love her. She was my daughter, after all, but it didn't seem to make any difference. I just didn't feel anything for her. In addition, I felt such hatred and sadness for myself. It was impossible to understand or grasp."
At 222 pages, this was a quick and easy read; I finished it in an afternoon. I found it to be a very moving, often heartbreaking, insightful story. Upon hearing her story, told in her own words, I continue to have great respect for Brooke Shields.
5 comments:
Great job! I actually want to read this book. I remember when she and Tom Cruise got into it when the book came out. I actually did have Postpartum Depression after having my son ... it was so hard and I felt like such a bad mother. It was hard to understand that it wasn't me. I would have loved to have had this book at that time. I think it is great when celebrities share things like this. Glad to hear it was well done and a good read. Wonderful job!
And I'm glad this "randomness" got you a good book!
This book was a great read for me after my last baby was born. I had a bit of the baby blues and it was great to hear that someone else felt like me and wasn't afraid to put it out there.
I really enjoyed reading your review. I've wanted to read Brooke's story about postpartum depression for so long. She really is giving so many mothers support and hope during an emotionally upside down time. You did a great job with this review! I just posted my poetic review. It's fun playing along with Jenners. You have a lovely blog. Good luck with all the challenges:)
Great review. Something we should all be aware of if we have loved ones with a new baby.
Wow! Interesting random selection. Great review and it would be interesting to read her book. I just posted my first selection for the challenge as well. Enjoyed reading your blog.
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