Comments on: Chapter Six Excerpt–Stella Falls Apart

By: Stacie

Stacie — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 22:14:52 +0000

Anyone who’s experienced a loss can clearly see and feel what Stella is going through…and all the characters in the story for that matter. They all touch me deeply. I just wonder if I would be as touched had I not experienced a loss. I hope you are able to reach the ones who haven’t so that there may be a little more understanding for those of us who have. Keep up the good work.

By: stefine

stefine — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 01:50:31 +0000

When that lady told stella she was naming her baby after stellas angel, I felt a blow to my stomach like it was me she was saying that to. I was almost in tears. This book is too good, it really reaches inside of the pain of a loss. Good work!

By: Polly

Polly — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 12:11:21 +0000

We don’t have the tradition of baby showers in Britain, though some people do a similar thing on the woman’s last day at work. I’m just appalled at how often North American women have to go through this! It’s bad enough having to go through the normal level of pg/ baby joy, let alone having to be in an enclosed space with every painful thing you can think of.

I know very well that none of my family bar a couple of friends will ever, ever consider me the mother of the two children I lost, and it’s a very cathartic experience reading about Stella’s pain and the years she’s spent grieving/ celebrating her little ones.

By: melody

melody — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 15:44:10 +0000

The feelings here are so deep and real, the very things that I feel sometimes. And I’ve made every excuse in the book to avoid baby showers. Reading this brought back all the reasons why I can’t go. I even felt the panic building up inside me at trying to attend.

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 17:44:02 +0000

This was a difficult incident – but you captured the pain and even betrayal Stella felt (by her family, her body, etc) as well as the guilt that the niece experiences over the name. I appreciate that rather than making the niece out to be a total bad guy. It highlights very well the misunderstanding that occurs between women over miscarriages. This was wonderfully written.

By: Dawn Lewis

Dawn Lewis — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 16:47:38 +0000

Of course, we know that making bracelets or writing that started in honor of our lost ones (or songs), is not wrong. Making money from creativity inspired by our babies is not wrong. It’s almost more right than ever…we’d probably make money from creativity with no reason, now the reason is continuing a legacy, continuing their lives. Nothing is wrong with that.

By: Dawn Lewis

Dawn Lewis — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 16:45:54 +0000

Very well developed with issues, history, reactions, and emotions. Stella is well fleshed out here. You could not have written this if you just miscarried, or if you had not felt this yourself. I know I’ve thought about the concept that if I write for money I might be unethical, yet haven’t thought why that would be. Taking advantage, yes, that’s exactly what it is.