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Monday, April 18, 2011
Week 1
I will let you guys start it off... I have about 30 pages left, but am absolutely exhausted... I will be caught up by tomorrow... but it is starting off really sad... :(
Getting to know the characters. I understand Chloe and also Max. All the difficulties of trying to get pregnant and the fertility treatments do take a toll on a marriage (know this from several people who went through that). Max was so supportive and wanted to do everything to keep Chloe happy. The spontaneity is gone cause she was so focused on "now is the time to do it". So the romance is gone. When she lost the baby after carrying it for so long and delivering it stillborn, I felt the loss for her. I really felt bad and can understand her sadness and depression. But when the doctor tells her that she has a blood clot and that getting pregnant again would be such a risk, Max couldn't take it anymore. She is willing to risk her life for a chance to be pregnant and having a child, but he isn't. He doesn't want to lose her. So leaving her cause he couldn't do it anymore was definitely understandable. You can tell how badly he felt when he turned to drinking. Too bad she didn't think of adopting cause that could keep her happy and save the marriage. Also, the cost of the treatments was hard for Max being self employed.
Wow! The plot thickens when Chloe finds out she has cancer and has to have her uterus removed. So definitely she won't be able to carry a child. She does have to deal with lots of losses.
I need to listen to the music but haven't done that yet. Maybe that can add to the story.
The new friendship for Chloe is a huge plus for Chloe. She needs to be able to have someone to talk with and can understand her. Max has that with the church he got involved with. So Chloe now has someone she can hang with and who can have empathy with her.
Can't wait to see how the "friendship" will evolve. Chloe doesn't seem to be the type to be "gay". There has never been any indication so far as she enjoyed her marriage in the beginning with Max. It's just her obsession of getting pregnant and wanting a baby so badly that destroyed the marriage.
OMG... This first section couldn't have gotten more depressing... Zoe is a fighter, I tell you what she has dealt with so much... one thing after another, and continues to move forward -ish... I agree with you Aunt Joyce, it's a shame that Zoe couldn't be okay with adopting. There are so many babies and children out there with no family that are waiting to be adopted and loved, and families that need their love just as much. I really do think that could have saved Zoe's and Max's marriage.
I feel really bad for Max. It is always sad to see an addict fall back into their addiction. He has it nearly as bad as Zoe.. although he is not the one that is going through all of the pain and illness, he is the one watching the one he loves go through it... I am sure he would want to trade with her, but he can't... he has tried to be supportive, but just as you say Aunt Joyce, he just can't go through it again, and watch Zoe risk her life.
I am interested where this relationship with Zoe and Vanessa is going to go. I agree again with you Aunt Joyce, I don't think Zoe is gay. And it is unfortunate, that Zoe has a good friend to confide in, and that friend has feelings for her. Hopefully it won't be awkward for either of them, because I think their friendship can help both of them.
Hopefully this books starts to become a bit more happy.....
Well, I was certainly overwhelmed at the beginning with all of the medical/pharmacutical information concerning fertilization. This made it difficult to get started but certainly gave a clue as to have difficult it is for Zoe who obviously wants a baby in the worst way (and with all she was doing it was pretty bad). Then to have a stillborn right when the baby shower (supposedly a happy occasion to share with loved ones and friends)was devastating to read. To make it even worse - like it could - she now has a clotting disorder. I can't blame Max either. I'm sure it was tough on him to constantly see his wife obssess about the baby, to have to help her with all her shots, illnesses and extreme disappointments. Max also is disappointed but probably could not even begin to understand what it feels like to try, think you have it going, and then find out it didn't take or as in the last case, 'gave birth to stillborn'. All that money and time also put a strain on seeing how much Zoe has to go through and maybe the male ego of not being able to produce a child was also getting in the way. It then became 'easy' for him to rely on his addiction. You both are right, he's worried about her well being as well. Hopefully, with him turning toward the church, he might find solice and maybe go back with Zoe. However, Zoe must really be at the end of her rope with the 'cancer' and not being able to bear any children at all from this point on. Zoe does need someone to talk to, confide in and hopefully Vanessa is a good source, yet....I don't know. Maybe Vanessa's compassion, kindness, caring, may lead to some 'misguided' feelings and connections. Jodi does right some pretty "heavy" stories. I also hope Jen, that it will lighten up a bit. Happy reading.
Getting to know the characters. I understand Chloe and also Max. All the difficulties of trying to get pregnant and the fertility treatments do take a toll on a marriage (know this from several people who went through that). Max was so supportive and wanted to do everything to keep Chloe happy. The spontaneity is gone cause she was so focused on "now is the time to do it". So the romance is gone. When she lost the baby after carrying it for so long and delivering it stillborn, I felt the loss for her. I really felt bad and can understand her sadness and depression. But when the doctor tells her that she has a blood clot and that getting pregnant again would be such a risk, Max couldn't take it anymore. She is willing to risk her life for a chance to be pregnant and having a child, but he isn't. He doesn't want to lose her. So leaving her cause he couldn't do it anymore was definitely understandable. You can tell how badly he felt when he turned to drinking. Too bad she didn't think of adopting cause that could keep her happy and save the marriage. Also, the cost of the treatments was hard for Max being self employed.
ReplyDeleteWow! The plot thickens when Chloe finds out she has cancer and has to have her uterus removed. So definitely she won't be able to carry a child. She does have to deal with lots of losses.
I need to listen to the music but haven't done that yet. Maybe that can add to the story.
The new friendship for Chloe is a huge plus for Chloe. She needs to be able to have someone to talk with and can understand her. Max has that with the church he got involved with. So Chloe now has someone she can hang with and who can have empathy with her.
Can't wait to see how the "friendship" will evolve. Chloe doesn't seem to be the type to be "gay". There has never been any indication so far as she enjoyed her marriage in the beginning with Max. It's just her obsession of getting pregnant and wanting a baby so badly that destroyed the marriage.
So now onward to the next reading.
OMG... This first section couldn't have gotten more depressing... Zoe is a fighter, I tell you what she has dealt with so much... one thing after another, and continues to move forward -ish... I agree with you Aunt Joyce, it's a shame that Zoe couldn't be okay with adopting. There are so many babies and children out there with no family that are waiting to be adopted and loved, and families that need their love just as much. I really do think that could have saved Zoe's and Max's marriage.
ReplyDeleteI feel really bad for Max. It is always sad to see an addict fall back into their addiction. He has it nearly as bad as Zoe.. although he is not the one that is going through all of the pain and illness, he is the one watching the one he loves go through it... I am sure he would want to trade with her, but he can't... he has tried to be supportive, but just as you say Aunt Joyce, he just can't go through it again, and watch Zoe risk her life.
I am interested where this relationship with Zoe and Vanessa is going to go. I agree again with you Aunt Joyce, I don't think Zoe is gay. And it is unfortunate, that Zoe has a good friend to confide in, and that friend has feelings for her. Hopefully it won't be awkward for either of them, because I think their friendship can help both of them.
Hopefully this books starts to become a bit more happy.....
Well, I was certainly overwhelmed at the beginning with all of the medical/pharmacutical information concerning fertilization. This made it difficult to get started but certainly gave a clue as to have difficult it is for Zoe who obviously wants a baby in the worst way (and with all she was doing it was pretty bad). Then to have a stillborn right when the baby shower (supposedly a happy occasion to share with loved ones and friends)was devastating to read. To make it even worse - like it could - she now has a clotting disorder.
ReplyDeleteI can't blame Max either. I'm sure it was tough on him to constantly see his wife obssess about the baby, to have to help her with all her shots, illnesses and extreme disappointments. Max also is disappointed but probably could not even begin to understand what it feels like to try, think you have it going, and then find out it didn't take or as in the last case, 'gave birth to stillborn'. All that money and time also put a strain on seeing how much Zoe has to go through and maybe the male ego of not being able to produce a child was also getting in the way. It then became 'easy' for him to rely on his addiction. You both are right, he's worried about her well being as well.
Hopefully, with him turning toward the church, he might find solice and maybe go back with Zoe. However, Zoe must really be at the end of her rope with the 'cancer' and not being able to bear any children at all from this point on. Zoe does need someone to talk to, confide in and hopefully Vanessa is a good source, yet....I don't know. Maybe Vanessa's compassion, kindness, caring, may lead to some 'misguided' feelings and connections.
Jodi does right some pretty "heavy" stories. I also hope Jen, that it will lighten up a bit. Happy reading.