Maybe Baby - Here’s what they’re saying so far

Couples dealing with infertility can often feel as if they are in the midst of a steeplechase – the distance they go to in order to start a family is long and frought with many intimidating hurdles. Matthew M.F. Miller, author of Maybe Baby: An Infertile Love Story, understands this difficult journey all too well.

Miller and his wife embarked upon this journey in June of 2006. Later, when he discovered there weren’t any blogs about infertility written from a man’s point of view, he created one. The no-holds-barred blog by the same name, led to a book that’s equally direct yet funny. And according to our bloggers, thus far, it’s a worthy read.

“The thing that I found so appealing about Maybe Baby was that it’s told from a guy’s prospective,” writes one reviewer. “I have NEVER heard my friends’ husbands talk about their sperm counts or the state of their wives’ vaginas.”

Another distinctive quality? The fact that Miller’s writing style within the book, “reads less like a blog to me. It is formal (in a good way), descriptive, and rich; not the conversational banter that you often recognize as bloggish. In fact, if someone hadn’t told me this book was written by a blogger, I really wouldn’t have known,” enthuses one blogger.

Many felt a connection to the author right away. “Miller delves into his past as an overweight adolescent and the road to becoming healthy in a way that makes you really invested in his story. Once he’s met Constance, his wife, you can’t help but root for the guy. When they decide to buy some Pottery Barn crib bedding before they even begin trying for a baby, though, you know you’re going to be reaching for the tissues by the end,” a reviewer remarks.

One reader also found herself getting emotional throughout parts of Maybe Baby. She can relate to his experience. “Reading about Matthew and Constance’s struggles with Clomid refreshed my memory of my own use of the fertility drug. His anticipation over the results of a home pregnancy test and the let down he and Constance felt upon seeing that Big Fat Negative made me recall my own disappointment,” she says.

But even those who haven’t experienced infertility (“When me & Jenna knock boots, the neighbors get pregnant.”) have still found much to appreciate. Like how, the author “covers, with candor, their journey from enjoyable sex, to mechanical sex, to doctor’s offices and clinics.” A second parent blogger chimes in, “Certainly Miller does not sugar coat his experiences as an infertile dad, and it’s actually quite refreshing to read about a man so baby hungry.”

A number of bloggers remarked upon his humility and thoughtfulness. “Rather than being mad at the world (as I would be),” sympathizes one reviewer, ”he tries to help his readers understand his pain - especially, having to watch his wife go through some of the most agonizing moments in a woman’s life.”

But a heft dose of frankness is met with heaping helpings of wit. “I gotta say that I never considered infertility a subject that could have a humorous spin put on it,” a blogger writes. ”But, Miller does a good job of keeping the tone light even when things look bleak and hopeless.” Another adds that he, “brings a refreshing comic flair to an extremely difficult situation.”

Still, one blogger admits difficulty to feeling a connection, and thought, “the book was more about him proving (to himself and any imaginary accusations he may have, since the reality is nobody in the book “blamed” him) that it was not “his fault”. I felt like we, as readers, did not get the insight into why he wanted to be a father, or what becoming a father would mean to him.”

For one blogger (and mother of four active kids), Maybe Baby has served as a continual remembrance of her good fortune. She writes:”Parenthood is like living an extreme sport and I sometimes need to be reminded that there are folks out there who would be more than happy, just to be able to even make it out of the gate.”

But this story, one reader insists, “isn’t just about the pain he and Constance have endured, it’s also a love story. A story of two people who stand by each other through good times and bad, through life and loss, and for all the days of their lives.”

If you love this author’s work, you, like several of our bloggers, are wondering what’s next for the couple. “I’ve become a total fan of Miller and his story, and am now an avid follower of his blog,” writes a reviewer. “I won’t spoil it for you, but I have a feeling there’s a happy ending in store for them down the line!”

What will our other bloggers think? Stay tuned.

Today - Baggage Reviews
Fri 9/19 - Creature Bug
Mon 9/22 - Mama Drama Stephanie
Tues 9/23 - Slackermama
Wed 9/24 - The SeaBird Chronicles
Thurs 9/25 - Karianna
Fri 9/26 - Mothergoosemouse
Tues 9/30 - Round-Up Review on PBN

Parent Bloggers Network co-founder Kristen Chase will be interviewing Matthew on her blog talk radio show on Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. For more information, click HERE!

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 18th, 2008 at 5:00 am and is filed under Books. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Maybe Baby - Here’s what they’re saying so far

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