Do you, like me, have a mountain of books threatening to topple over on your nightstand? I like nothing better than soaking in a hot bath before bedtime and diving into a good book. I usually start with my Bible (I'm only reading a chapter a night right now and allowing the words to sink in...no guilt!). Then, I read a few pages of a non-fiction book related to a topic I'm currently interested in (I'm starting a Milton Hershey biography tonight). Lastly, my ultimate treat is a novel that sweeps me away to another time or place (my current read: The One in a Million Boy by Monica Wood...oh, to write like her!). You can read more about this captivating novel over at modernmrsdarcy.com.
My new goal is to share with my readers a monthly review of a book about infertility. Detours: Unexpected Journeys of Hope Conceived from Infertility is hot off the press and is an anthology of stories compiled by Sue A. Johnston.
Detours is an easy read written in a conversational tone and relates eleven different stories (one from a man's perspective) of how each person found resolution for their infertility. Topics include IUI, IVF, donor eggs and embryos, international adoption, and choosing to live child free. Spoiler alert: All but one of the women's stories were resolved through infertility treatment, pregnancy, and delivery of healthy babies. If you are in search of hope that your prayers for a biological child will be answered, Detours offers encouragement that, with persistence, your baby dreams will eventually become a reality.
On the flip side, readers need to be aware that while some of the women in Detours mention God and prayer, the stories are not necessarily told from a Christian perspective. In addition, if you are at the point in your journey where you are considering adoption, only one story briefly mentions this alternative route to building a family.
Overall, Detours' skims the surface of the infertility experience. However, its casual storytelling style makes the reader feel like she is sitting on a comfy couch having tea with a friend who's been there, a treat that is in short supply when waiting in the valley of infertility.