Childbirth Books

This book is very informative and easy to read. It has lots of information and explains everything very well.

This book IS NOT just for women who are trying to conceive a baby ~ this book is for women ~ period. I purchased this book after having a great deal of trouble coming off birth control. I was scared and confused about what was going on with my body and this book was recommended to me by someone on a message board.

I've read the book cover to cover and have re-read certain sections several times ~ yes, its that good. The book itself is really informative and reviews information we may or may not have learned earlier in our lives. But then it specifically reviews how cycles work and why. It teaches you how to learn about your body and why it is important to do so. It then teaches you how to chart your cycle symptoms, beginning with basel body temperatures and continues with other fertility signs as well. The book also reviews all the variations we might see in our charts, which is very comforting to people like me who were having irregularity issues.

I am not currently trying to conceive, nor are we planning on trying until May 2009. I am actually using this book to learn about my cycles, learn when I am ovulating, and learn, most importantly to me right now, when I am NOT fertile. That's right, no more pregnancy scares, no more nervousness about when I could get pregnant, etc. I only use condoms for about 1/3 of my cycle and the rest of the time we can enjoy unprotected sex. I am successfully practicing natural birth control the rest of the time ~ and its wonderful. Its so nice to be know what is going on in my body without being scared and nervous!

I also expect that we we do start to TTC, the process will be much easier because I will already know so much about my cycles and when I am fertile. Plus, if we do have trouble, we'll have data to share with the doctor.

Really, the book is a must for women who are of a healthy reproductive age. I feel empowered, happier, and more relaxed about my body.

I'm in my early thirties and I got pregnant the first month I charted after trying for over a year. I cannot recommend this book enough. If you're serious about wanting to learn more about your body or finding a way to get pregnant naturally then this is the book for you.

I wish I had gotten a hold of this book sooner. I realised that I have been trying on the wrong day. Good book, gives a lot of detail.

I decided to use this book for birth control while searching for a doctor who would put an IUD in a nulliparous woman. I had problems with the pill and an allergy to latex. I followed the directions for how to avoid perfectly. I still don't know how I got pregnant and I was too embarrassed that i had used such a ridiculous method to show my charts to my gyno. Definitely consult with a health care provider before using FAM for birth control

This is a good book for anyone trying to help elderly parents. I found the style of writing, relating all things to old tv shows, sometimes distracting and confusing but the information in the book was so worth the read. It gave me strength and focus on dealing with my Mom. I am still continuing to find resources through this book and it is really a valuable tool.

This book was recommeded to me by someone who know I was careing for an elder parent. Lucky for me my father doesn't experience the rages the writers does. While my father doesn't experience rages he does have some of the other issues the writer deals with. Her experinces can be discribed as maddening but she tells her story and relates her experiences with a touch of humor; although I'm positive they were funny at the time.

If you are starting to deal with an aging parent I highly recommend this book.

This is a great book for anyone dealing with parents with dementia or alzheimer's disease. Although my dad does not experience the rage that Jackie's did, this book helped me understand that there are many of us going through the same stuff and we can help each other! This book is easy to read, FUNNY, frightening, and engaging. The tips for dealing with her parents are very helpful and the resources section at the end is great. Thanks for writing this book!

The situation is one that many of us just beginning to think about enjoying retirement find ourselves in. We work years and years and just when we think it is our time to rest a bit, wham, our parents get this awful disease. This book is riveting. I would put it down because I was so angry with Jake, then just a minute later pick it up again. I have to admit that I really ended up hating Jake and I blame Mariel for not protecting her children from this maniac. The author forgives, but I don't think that I would be as gracious or as good a person and be able to forgive. And I'm just talking about the behaviors prior to the onset of the disease.

The part of the book I didn't like was the writing style. The author lapsed into movie or song dialog or variations on a title. It was nearly every other sentence and became quite distracting early on. I suppose this is due to her involvement in the entertainment industry, but yes we got that the first 10 pages.

There are some very good resources and specific question and answers at the end of the book. It provides a good starting point for those just now entering this crazy world of eldercare.

I wish to extend a huge thank you to Jacqueline for writing this book! My mother-in-law had been diagnosed with dementia and had progressed to point where we felt it was no longer safe to allow her to continue to live alone. Our problem was that she was fighting us "tooth and nail" at every turn. She did not realize the scope of her problem. She felt she merely could not remember things once in awhile. Reality was, she was no longer cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, or bathing. We were having to keep her stocked with foods to eat that did not require being cooked, or even warmed up, because she no longer knew how to do that. Her home looked "neat" (other than the knick-knacks that she would constantly move from place to place throughout), but when one of us would go and actually clean - it was shocking the amount of dirt that we would take out of there! Yet, any mention of moving her to somewhere that could provide her with meals, laundry, cleaning, etc would result in her flying into a rage at the person suggesting it! We didn't know what to do.
Long story short, Jacqueline's book ELDER RAGE came up on a link on a website for dementia. I decided to read the book. First of all, her book is quite engaging and entertaining. Jacqueline's sense of humor and story-telling keeps the reader interested. I felt compelled to read it just to find out how things turned out! But also, throughout the book, Jacqueline tells of all the different things that she tried to do to help her parents. Just that, alone, was valuable - because she not only tells what worked, but also what DIDN'T work. The end of her book is a wealth of information for anyone caring for a loved one with dementia. It sure helped our family! My mother-in-law is now being cared for in an assisted living facility that specializes in memory care. The road to get her there was a bumpy one at times, but Jacqueline's book helped us realize that it was what we needed to do, and it helped us to know how to do it! If you have a loved one with dementia you MUST read this book!

I really liked this book. If you are planning for or contemplating a natural birth this is a must read.

Ina May's book begins with the stories of tens of women who have laboured at the Farm. It shows, in real women's words, the power of the human body and the natural nature of childbirth.

She then goes on to describe the principles of midwifery, calling upon scientific evidence to support her claims. I like this book because it is not 'hippie', but rather uses science to support the view that natural childbirth is best for both mother and child.

After reading this book 3 times during my 2007 pregnancy (and taking Lamaze classes), I looked forward to labor and delivery with excitement, rather than fear. I felt confident in my body's ability to deliver my baby safely and naturally without being numbed by drugs or sliced open by a surgeon. This book not only helped me avoid an epidural, but it gave me the confidence to wait it out when I was a few days overdue and my doctor suggested that I be induced. (Of course I would have agreed if it had been necessary, but since all was well with the baby, I knew she would arrive when SHE was ready, and she did, 7 days after my due date.) I had an amazing, empowering natural birth and this book was invaluable to me. I will share it with many women over the years!

This is by far the best book on the subject. I have been a fan of Ina May Gaskin since Spiritual Midwifery, which was given to me by a former midwife. I did extensive research for a novel I wrote about natural childbirth and this book helped me a great deal. When I became pregnant I knew I was going to have natural childbirth and this was the book I went back to. It is an opening book that makes a woman really think about the choices she makes for herself and ultimately her child. I cannot recommend this book enough.

While a bit extremist at times, Gaskin's book is very helpful to those considering births beyond the medical model. The first half - full of birth stories - is uplifting and inspiring, and the information Gaskin presents is compelling. While still "crunchy granola," the wealth of information in this book is not to be overlooked.

I could not put this book down! It made my cry a couple of times but it does have a happy ending.

It really sucks when you have to struggle and this poor woman was sick and couln't help what she had to do. But they way children are treated in orphanages and foster homes are outrageous. People wake up these children just need love and compassion.

Since I first read this book over 15 years ago I've read the book over 10 times. I read it three times the first year. I felt it was an amazing story, very touching, and able to tug at me each time I read it. The strength and courage that the author had was amazing.

I just finished this book--what an emotional ride. I was worried it was a story about parents who actually put their child in a cage. But it is not about parents abusing children; more about a child's survival, love, and connection, all while living in a harsh and deadening world.

If you are going to read this book, be ready for it to open your heart, bring about deep-seated emotions, and be impossible to put down.

I could not put this book down once I started reading it. From page one it drew me in and took a hold of me in this young mans life and his family's ordeals. I never have felt more grateful for my own upbringing since having lived through Jennings eyes. He only had his "doggy" and that was his only escape from the cruel world around him. After I was done reading the book I was so offended by orphanages and the way the treated children I wanted to find out where he was at, who were the nuns who hurt him, I was angry and really wanted revenge for him. I think we all need to open our eyes to the system and help these children out and make sure this abuse does not happen these children belong to all of us and do not deserve this, they all deserve a better place with some family. Jennings deserved a home with a real doggy from the start and I ached for him.

This is a great book because it is neither for vaccines nor against them-it just presents as much information as possible and leads the reader to his or her own conclusion. Now I feel a bit educated on the issue when my son's pediatrician presents his "convincing" side of the story (pro- all vaccines).

The most helpful parts of the book are Dr. Sear's Selective & Alternative vaccine schedules. This informs parents of their options besides (1) getting all vaccines on the AAP's schedule, or (2) declining all vaccines.

This book compiles information that is a good beginning when trying to learn about vaccinations and whether or not they're right for you and your child. Not the difinitive guide though.

I must preface this review with the disclosure that I am personally in agreement with much of the information and views presented in the Sears' parenting library. I have been reading this book as I prepare to have my second child vaccinated. I will have my children vaccinated because we travel internationally to the developing world where diseases that are not common in the U.S. are still present, however, I am planning on a modified schedule due to information I am now aware of that contraindicates (in my opinion, based on my research) the CDC schedule. My first child, who is now four years old, was vaccinated using the schedule recommended by the CDC, which I have since come to be somewhat skeptical of. I appreciate the objectivity with with Dr. Sears presents information about the vaccination schedule. Perhaps more importantly I appreciate his objective assessment of the risks involved in vaccinating or not vaccinating for the different diseases. If you are also interested in knowing more about the pros and cons of the myriad vaccinations this is a good resource for your library. Based on additional research I have done on the subject Dr. Sear's book is a valuable resource for your library.

I appreciated Dr. Sears' balanced perspective toward vaccines as written in this book. It is thoroughly informative and really presents the various vaccine options clearly and concisely. The author's medical perspective does shine through, as he encourages various vaccinations for the good of the general populace, but it is clear that he is writing the book for individuals who are considering the good of their own children first, and I appreciate that.

I had already been set against vaccines before reading this book, but I carefully reconsidered each option in the reading of the book, and I feel that a person who doesn't know anything about vaccines could pick up this information and choose entirely for or against vaccines or land somewhere in the middle, just based on this book. For that reason and because it has made me feel much more confident in my own decisions, I would recommend this book to any parent or parent-to-be who is interested in getting facts, not propaganda. A lot of vaccines have changed their ingredients in the last ten years, and it is very helpful to have that updated information; mercury, for example, has been all but totally removed. For my own part, I feel that the levels of aluminum in the three shots that I considered are still way too high and not worth the risk when it comes to injecting them into an infant, but I like that someone else could read the book and come to a completely different conclusion.

I notice that of those people who rate this book poorly, the camp seems to be rather evenly divided between those who say Dr. Sears is too pro-vaccine and those who say he is too anti-vaccine. That seems to show that he has done a good job of presenting the case fairly.

It's a good read for parents who are concerned about the whole "Should I, Shouldn't I?" sitch with vaccines.

I've read several births on midwifery and Peggy Vincent's is by far one of the most readable in terms of reaching a broad audience. If you reach for a midwifery book, in general you are pregnant and considering it as a birth option or interested in midwifery itself. There aren't a lot of general interest readers but Vincent's book is in a position to change it. It is both a memoir of a powerful personal journey and a piquant social commentary but beyond those two facets it is a testament to the power of women and the beautiful normalcy of birth. In fact, it's the stories of the women--both happy and sad--- that make the book so compelling, particularly because the author doesn't try to ignore or whitewash births that did not end as planned.
I recommend Babycatcher to any pregnant mom who wants a glimpse of her own birthing capabilities and to any women considering midwifery. I also recommend it to anyone else who wants a moving, informative, often funny adventure into the exciting world of baby catching.

My best friend gave me this book as a thank-you gift for flying from Nor Cal (60 miles from Berkley, where most of the action is set) to Phoenix, AZ on a few hours' notice, five days ahead of schedule, in order to be her doula for her first baby. I had read it before I left for California again some days later.

Fast, engaging, memorable life experiences follow a decades-long parade of shifting ideas of how women give birth in our country, from "all stirrups-and-forceps, all the time!" (slight exaggeration... slight.) to the reemergence of midwifery care and homebirth. The chapters tend to be short, which is great if you've only got a few minutes to squeeze in some reading. The stories are exhilarating, often hilarious, sometimes terrifying.

One of my favorite books. I hope someday to meet Peggy and learn more from her as I also work with laboring women, and maybe even get to catch a few babies, myself.

I love that Peggy begins her career as a shy, girlish candy striper & goes on to become the take-charge, seasoned veteran she ultimately is. I love that she chose what appear to be the most exciting, interesting, poignant & pivotal birth stories of her professional career to share with us. She gives the people what we want - action! I've read lots of hum-drum, normal homebirth stories, so I found it refreshing to be riveted at every page.
BTW, Peggy, you got screwed & it's not fair! I was so spitting mad about her lawsuit that happened >20 years ago that I will rant about it whenever the topic comes up. A page-turner, but perhaps not for first-time pregnant mommies. If you're really into childbirth, like me, wait until your postpartum time, when you need something to get your heart racing & overemotional eyes pouring in happiness & sadness.

Absolutely one of the best books I read of late. I was a labor and delivery nurse in the mid 70's when so many changes occurred. This book took me down memory lane of all of the wonderful experiences I had as I labored women before the "electronic age". Thank you Peggy and your women for sharing the most intimate part of their lives.

This was quite possibly one of my favorite books of all time! I am an aspiring midwife and felt like this book spoke directly to me and encompassed my own thoughts on labor, delivery, and midwifery in the U.S.

I would love to spend a few hours picking Peggy's brain and just listening to her talk. A WONDERFUL book!

I never even considered "what to expect..."-- I'd flipped through friends' copies, and was never impressed with either the style or the information presented.

During my own pregnancy, which was higher risk to begin with but rapidly turned into a high-risk endeavor, this book was a great source to read up and help me formulate questions for my obs & perinatologists.

I do wish it covered more rare conditions in more detail, but with so much other information, there are bound to have been edits. Also wish there was a source that lets the reader know that after amnio, its NOT unsual to spend the next 2 days in bed. I had to have the test, but they should really prepare the parents better for this particular test.

A good source based on solid obstetrics.

The info in this book was always very high-level. If you are like my husband and I, you may find youself visiting websites weekly to read about fetal development. If so, don't bother to buy this book. It NEVER had any more info than I got online!! Even on specific issues such as gestational diabetes screening, the info was never more than the few paragraphs you find on every pregnancy website. So I found it to be a total waste of money & I rarely opened it.

Furthermore, DO NOT TAKE ADVICE ON LABOR & BIRTH from this book. It states, "There is nothing you can do to prevent a C-section." THIS IS TOTALLY FALSE! First, right off-the-bat, the rate of c-section varies wildly among practicioners. Picking a health care provider with a lower c/s rate will lower your risk. Secondly, getting an epidural doubles your risk of c/s - so there is PLENTY you can do to lower your risk. (Sure, you can't 100% prevent it, but you CAN substantially lower your risk.) I highly recommend "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" to find out the REAL FACTS on OB procedures. You do not want to just blindly trust your practicioner.

I recently found out that I was 6-weeks pregnant, and my first thought was, "What's the most informative book I can have to guide me through these 9 months?" I blindly stumbled on this book, and I am so relieved! Considering I forgot to ask my friends and family on advice for which books I should purchase and use as my bible, I (thank GOD) didn't buy What to Expect When Expecting, and instead, bought Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. I guess my primary reason of choosing this book is because its written by medical professionals. The last thing I wanted to do was choose a guide that was not written by medical professionals. I want to feel as though I have something to refer to when I can't call my OB at 3am!! Its very well organized, and although I'm only in my first trimester, it helps to view what is to come in my 2nd and 3rd trimesters. The information provided is very clear and for being a first-time mom, I want to know what I should be alarmed and/or concerned about, but I definitely don't want to feel as though I'm becoming completely paranoid about every little thing (I don't need extra help in that category!). I highly recommend this book to anyone who is experiencing their first pregnancy, or even for those who have traveled down this road before.

This book is fantastic, and the best of its kind in the genre. Very thorough and updated. I would recommend this a hundred times over What to Expect when you're expecting.

I love, love, love this book! I am currently 11 weeks pregnant and I don't know what I'd do without it. I bought this book and began reading it even before conceiving and I was amazed with the wealth of information it contains. The organization of the book is perfect; instead of just breaking down the baby's development by month (like "What to Expect When You're Expecting"), this book breaks it down by week. Every week, I look forward to reading about my baby's progress (and seeing what he/she looks like!). Also, this book not only tells me about my baby's development, but the changes in my own body as well. "What to to Expect When You're Expecting" seems to focus on Mom's changing body and not baby's as much.

The Pregnancy reference guide in this book is also awesome; I have used it so many times already. I've also started reading some of the postpartum info the book contains, just to educate myself, and I know it will definitely come in handy when the baby arrives. Overall, I feel I can trust this book, not only because of who the authors are, but also because the advice and information it contains have ALWAYS been right in line with what my doctor has told me. I would definitely recommend purchasing "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy" if you're even thinking about having a baby and then if you still want "What to Expect When You're Expecting," (which I did just out of curiosity), buy it as a supplement just in case this book doesn't answer a specific question.

The pictures are wonderful in this book. I remember my mom having an earlier edition when I was little and now I have an updated edition of my own!

I haven't read this book. I purchased the book for my son and his wife, who will be having their first child in January 2009. It will also make me and my wife grandparents for the first time! They love the book! Thank you for the rapid delivery! Susan and Billy Thompson

I bought this book 27 years ago when I was expecting my first child and when my daughter told me she was planning a family, I immediately purchased the updated version for her. This book remains a classic! The pictures are unbelievable and so beautiful and vivid. Because it's a European book, the childbirth pictures may be more graphic than what we are used to here in the States, but look beyond that to see the beauty and wonder of childbirth depicted in this amazing book. I highly recommend it!

A+ new edition of a book that I originally purchased when my son was born 29 years ago. I purchased the updated version for him and his wife. It is excellent! I recommend for all new parents and/or grandparents to give as a gift to their children.

Wonderful book amazing to see detailed pictures of the baby. Great for showing your children what is going on in your body. Other pictures are dated and need to be updated to this decade.

I bought this book for my husband since he has never been around babies before. I wanted him to gain some knowledge of the whole process since we are expecting our first little on in the spring. This book is both packed with well needed information and a little bit of entertainment. It is not as dry as most books and offers a bit of humor in an otherwise stressful time. I even read of few chapters and it made me chuckle. I would definitely recommend this for new daddies to be.

This book is full of great useful information for both my husband and me. I seriously learned a lot for a first time expectant mom - while laughing.

Before our son was born, I bought this for my husband, an Eagle Scout, as a kind of joke. Once we both started reading, though, we were impressed with not just the practical advice, but also how all that useful information is conveyed with such wit and how it really does look and sound just like an old Boy Scout manual!

This handbook was surprisingly comprehensive given its size and how many pictures are in it. I was glad to find that it answered several questions on my mind as an expectant mom (even though I bought it for my husband) and it took a short time to read each section. I find the author really took time to lay out the important facts/options piece-meal so you can absorb the information. I have other books that cover the same subjects in long written form (which is also good) but when crunched on time, this one was succinct and touched on the key points you need. The humor is great but I think the visualizations and breakdowns are really the highlights.

After reading the reviews about this book, I ordered this book from Amazon.com. I received it and riped into the box to get it out. Actually, my wife stole it from me, but I got it back. I am about to be a new dad and I loved this book. It was funny, gave real life tips and made me want to read it from cover to cover. The book shows a dad with a tool belt filled with everything he will need for his baby, but I think this book was left out of the belt. It is awesome!!!!

I've read some reviews and have to repeat what someone else has pointed out: Readers need to keep in mind that this stuff happened in the 40's and 50's. You can't criticize the smoking, because at that time, people didn't know smoking around kids was harmful. Smoking was a very normal activity for many adults. If Marie Killilea had known that smoking might be contributing to her miscarriages and ill health of her kids, I'm sure she would have stopped. People didn't know.

You can't criticize Karen's parents for not creating a cerebral-palsy playgroup for her, because they were the groundbreakers in treating cerebral palsied kids like "normal" kids. They were flying by the seat of their pants. My guess would be that they decided they should raise Karen "normally," and having her play a lot with other handicapped kids would not have seemed "normal"--after all, what they were fighting were doctors and other professionals who recommended placing Karen permanently in an institution FILLED with other handicapped people. This book is not a recent book and it has to be read in the historical context. I mean, schools were still segregated when Karen was born. Geez.

I read this book and "With Love From Karen" when I was in about fifth and sixth grade, after my mother gave me "Wren." Honestly, I never thought much about the cerebral-palsy side of the books. I was an only child, I loved animals, and I thought that Karen was lucky to live in her family. The cerebral palsy was kind of a side issue for me. We didn't go to church, and I didn't understand a lot of the Catholic stuff either, but I loved that the family sounded so close.

I think the concern someone posted about publishing this book when Karen was still young has some validity, but--her mom was desperately trying to draw attention to the fact that handicapped kids were okay. She succeeded in a huge way, through this book. She influenced a generation of people, people who would have looked at her daughter strangely if they ever met her, due to her handicap, but, instead, looked at Karen as practically an angel, because they felt they knew her through this book. And after all, when Marie wrote the book, she would have had no idea that it would end up being in print for decades and read all over the world, and that Karen would still be hounded by fans in 2007 (which apparently she is, when they can track her down).

I guess what I'm saying is, before anyone criticizes Karen's mom, they ought to keep in mind that their opinions about what's right and wrong for handicapped kids were probably shaped by Karen's mom, whether they realize it or not. Our whole society was influenced by "Karen." Yeah, everyone knows you don't keep a kid with cerebral palsy hidden in the basement of your house--but hey, America didn't always know that.

I just found a website where I read that Gloria's two daughters, ages 9 and 7 at the time, were killed in a house fire. I actually cried over this. Although of course I never met any of these people, they felt like my family when I was a kid.

I picked up this book in a library toss bin recently and foolishly (not realizing it was out of print) left it on the airplane for the next passenger requiring inspiration. The many 5-star reviews should give an objective reader a clue as to the type of book this is, and the type of writer Killilea was--and that does NOT mean Jane Austen. Because I am something of a 3-star Sally in my reviews, I must add that my usual complaints (poor writing, confusing organization, insufficient editing) are not my reasons for faulting this book. It is fairly well-written (back when editors were editors!), with the insousiance that pervades works by well-fed, country club ladies of the 1950's (Jean Kerr comes to mind) who bore none of the crosses feminism would later burn figuatively on their expansive front lawns.

My beef about this book--please do NOT send me nasty e-mails!--is that I did not find any of the characters, and I include the title character and the author, particularly appealing. As to Karen herself, she was a little girl undergoing a particular education regimen. It was rigorous and stressful, and, being a little girl who, like most little girls, wanted desperately to please those whom she loves, she survived it. But living to tell the tale is not the same as heroism, though nowadays you would never know it, and if Oprah were interviewing Homer about Troy, we'd be listening to the story of Aeneas rather than Hector. I doubt that Killilea's intention was to raise her daughter to a pinnacle, though, and anyone who views the child's story as a triumph over adversity is misreading the book. I believe that Killilea's point was that Karen's story could be ANY child's story, given the same set of favorable circumstances.

So, having attempted to view the author's intentions in a light most sympathetic to me, I sadly must now add that I really didn't like the author ONE BIT. She represents a type of unquestioning, anti-intellectual, rigid Catholicism that makes it hard for other Catholics to be Catholic. Since she flaunts her Irishness, I feel free to whack the ball back into that court by saying that the Italians where I grew up in New York thought people like the Killileas were crazy. I do not know how many Roman Catholics she and her ilk have caused to lapse over the decades; any healthy religion has a spectrum of levels of dogmatism, but this particular group seemed to dominate the Church in New York for a long time (if you think I lie, check the list of bishops in the NYC archdiocese even now).

But I should not air this dirty laundry online! And I should not let my intellectual response to the book be colored by the fact that I now am sojourning in a city that gives full testament to the Catholic Church's exhuberance, wackiness, theological depth, and sensual excess. Killilea was probably an above-average product of her isolated little smoke-filled (literally as well as figuratively!) caucasion world. (I normally make my home in the Baltimore/Washington area, and found quite enlightening her descriptions of the people of color who carried the Killilea luggage on the way to Johns Hopkins Hospital).

Speaking of smoke-filled: Amen to the reviewers who point out the frightening excess of tobacco-dependence. I do believe there was a point in the book in which the author and her husband sit around smoking in the same room where lay their daughter Marie, at that very moment suffering from some type of long-term lung failure. Excuse me? Is there a doctor in the house? (No, wait; the doctors were the ones offering cigarettes.) Maybe just someone with an inquiring mind? (See, it's getting back to the Catholic thing . . . . )

I am 49 now and read this book when I was about 8 years old. (Why a book with curse words was available in the Weekly Reader Book Club for little children to read, I'll never know.) I have never dwelt on any of the negatives that readers are commenting about, with the one exception of the smoking. I do not have CP, but as a child I knew something about me was different. I was premature, late learning to walk, and the slowest runner of all the children - no matter how hard I tried to run faster or how much I loved to run. I had frequent stomachaches & got sick with sinus/allergy/URI's/dehydration regularly every 3 months or so. I almost died at least twice. My ankles turned or twisted very easily. I hated being crowded or hearing loud noises. My legs hurt often, & if I fell on one of my kneecaps, it felt broken because the pain was so horrible. The pediatrician said this was "growing pains", but it wasn't. At the age of 28, I learned that I had "fibrositis", now called Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS or CFIDS). This incurable chronic disease - an autoimmune, muscle, pain, allergy/sinus, urinary, colon, and neurological/cognitive disorder in one - can be disabling. In fact, it has been compared to mild cases of spastic CP. Microscopic tears that grew into huge tears (caused by the FMS) made me need to have major reconstructive surgery of my right knee at 13 and my left knee at 24. So reading about Karen's struggles from a young age helped me to also conquer challenges that my own disability has brought into my life. I presently work a full-time job as an administrative assistant for a global company. I love Big Marie's different writing style. Like today's very popular cable show about the Roloffs of Roloff Farm in Oregon (married dwarves who have 4 children, only one of which is a dwarf), who have the problems and disagreements every family has but struggle as a team to make it in an oversized world, the Killileas were a normal family dealing with a precious child who was labeled "abnormal". I loved that they turned the living room into a physical therapy room and invited the "normal" kids over to watch and join in the fun. I loved that there were gouges in the furniture where Karen had vacuumed, and they didn't care. I loved that Karen was not a little saint - she was human, as proved by the stunts she made her little brother Rory carry out, and the "female dog" term she used to get rid of an obnoxious stranger who invited himself into their house. I loved that Gloria had the maturity, discipline and self-control to wait 7 years for Russ, her true love. I'm not Catholic, but I loved that they regularly went to Mass and had spiritual insights. I loved that they taught Karen to take part in what physical activities she could, such as swimming and horse riding. I loved that Karen dealt with severe pain every day (as I do) and HATE that they put that spreader between her legs at night to stretch her leg muscles - like torture! In short, the best part of "Karen" is that she never limited herself by listening to what doctors and therapists told her she could never do, but she surpassed all their limitations and expectations by victories like walking, writing by hand, and getting up & down off of chairs alone. I'm still inspired by this book today.

I have read "Karen" a number of times since my teen years, though prior to purchasing the book, it had been at least 10 years since my last reading. This story of a girl born in 1940 with cerebral palsy -- and all the trials, tribulations, and stigma that went along with its diagnosis, treatment, and daily living at that time -- remains intriguing and engaging.

More than simply an eye-opening account of life with a severely disabled child, "Karen" is a window into another era, even another culture (the story takes place in the well-to-do suburbs north of New York City). The Killilea's were a devoutly Catholic Irish-American family. This is before Vatican II and the changes it brought to the Mass and to the church itself. Smoking was socially acceptable, its health risks not well-consdidered. These things all play into the story.

I feel compelled to address Marie's (author/narrator) comment, during her husband Jiimmy's serious illness, that she would sacrifice her children. I believe other reveiwers have mis-interpreted her remark. She wasn't minimizing her love for her children; she was expressing her extraordinary love and devotion to her husband. Again, remember that the book was written in 1952 and should not be judged as if it had been written in 2006. Language, customs, beliefs, and even our culture were significantly different.

In summary, "Karen" is a fascinating story. Should you take everything in it at face value? No, of course not. Is it worth reading? Absolutely, if not for the day-to-day details of life with cerebral palsy, then for the window into life in suburbia in the early 1950's.

It is also worth noting that Marie Killilea was instrumental in founding United Cerebral Palsy, the organization that still advocates for and supports the cerebral palsied today.

I read this the first time as an adult. I had asked a librarian if she could recommend a good heartwarming book, and she insisted this was what I needed to read. It instantly became one of my all time favorites. The main reason I wanted to review it here, is I notice so many fellow readers complaining about the mother's approach to her daughter's disability, etc, and I want to point out,when Karen was born, the world was a different place entirely. 'Political correctness' had not been coined yet.
Smoking was not recognized as the evil we now think of; in fact, it was common for doctor's to smoke in their offices with their patients. Mother's were not told to quit smoking because they were pregnant. I could go on, but my point is, for the time in our history when Karen was a child, there was no Disability Rights Act. The idea to treat a disabled child with dignity and equal rights were sadly un-common, and this is not the fault of Karen's family. Like all of us, they did the best they could with what they knew how to do.
I think all this P.C. talk is taking away from the underlying feeling of the book. It is a triumph of the human spirit and I see that so clearly and am left feeling good about the strength and courage inside of us that we don't know is there, unless we are forced to summon it, or learn about someone like Karen, who had no choice but to live life the best she could.
I am not condoning smoking or other bad choices mentioned in the book. I am simply attempting to suggest that if that is all you are looking at, you are missing the boat.
This is the kind of book that I love most; it makes me laugh and cry and most of all, it is the kind of story that makes me realize how small most of my problems are.
It brings to mind other humbling people such as Helen Keller. It may not be an equal comparison, but the feeling I derive from it is the same.