MEMOIRS OF ALMOST BARREN WOMEN

Quick, emotional personal essays about women’s experiences with infertility.

Vulnerability is the predominant mode in this set of essays. Willis, a nurse, compiles the stories of five Black and white women who’ve each experienced struggles with infertility, alongside her own story, commentary, and research. The book is clear from the outset that it’s intended for other women, and especially Black women, going through similar difficulties and those who love them; it’s not about the causes of infertility, although these do come up within each woman’s story. Willis also includes several resources at the end of the book; these include lists of celebrities who’ve publicly spoken about infertility, online resources and supportive communities, terms and definitions, and cited works for further research, as well as about 50 pages labeled “My Journey to Parenthood Journal,” featuring prompts such as “Today I am,” “Message of Hope,” and “Today’s Self-care Activity.” The book is at its best when it’s affirmational; for example, one of the last chapters, “Releasing the Shame,” has plenty of positive encouragement: “My goal is to say it is okay! There is no shame! Release the guilt and celebrate your different paths to parenthood when you are ready!” Willis and her contributors all appear to be cisgender, straight, Christian women, and there appears to be a general assumption that readers are anti-abortion and attempting to conceive while married. One essay states that to have an abortion is to “play God,” while positively characterizing human intervention via in vitro fertilization. Readers whose views harmonize with the authors may find validation in these pages, but those who don’t will likely feel excluded from the discussion.

An informative work about fertility issues for readers who share the essayists’ beliefs.