Title: An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination
Author: Elizabeth McCracken
First published September 10, 2008
186 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780316027670 (ISBN10: 0316027677)
Rating: 4.18
Overview
“This is a heart-wrenching tale of love and loss,” writes Elizabeth McCracken in her moving memoir. A successful novelist enjoying her self-proclaimed spinster status, McCracken suddenly falls in love and gets married, moving to a remote part of France to work on her next novel and await the arrival of her first child.
But tragedy strikes in her ninth month of pregnancy when she learns that her baby boy has died. In the aftermath of such a devastating loss, how does one move forward?
McCracken’s poignant story offers a powerful glimpse into the journey of healing and finding hope in the face of unimaginable grief. A must-read for anyone who has experienced loss or knows someone who has.
About the Author
Meet Elizabeth McCracken, an American author known for her memoir and fiction works. She is happily married to Edward Carey, also a novelist, and they are proud parents to two children named August George Carey Harvey and Matilda Libby Mary Harvey.
Although she experienced the heartbreak of losing a child before birth, she used this experience to create a poignant memoir.
McCracken honed her writing skills at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, but her education began in Boston, Massachusetts, where she attended Newton North High School and later earned a degree in library science from Simmons College, a women’s college in the same city. Today, McCracken resides in Saratoga Springs, New York, where she serves as an artist-in-residence at Skidmore College.
Interestingly, her brother, Harry McCracken, is the editor-in-chief of PC World magazine.
Editoral Review
In her poignant memoir, An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination, Elizabeth McCracken masterfully blends humor, grief, and exquisite language to explore the complexity of loss and motherhood. This book, first published on September 10, 2008, belongs to the genre of memoirs, promising to provide a peek into the life of the author as well as her reflections on reality as we know it.
McCracken takes us on an emotional journey, starting with her excitement at discovering she’s pregnant, culminating in her heartbreaking experience with stillbirth, and her attempts to rebuild her life in the aftermath. Her honesty and clarity of thought stand out in the book, allowing readers to connect not only with her story but with the universal experiences of love, grief, and acceptance.
Throughout the book, the author explores themes of grief, hope, motherhood, and the human condition, with piercing honesty and a sense of humor. The memoir is enriched by McCracken’s masterful command of the English language, which allows her to convey complex emotions with exquisite precision.
Despite the weighty subject matter, McCracken keeps things engaging with her playful storytelling and her light-handed approach to the narrative. Above all, McCracken makes the reader feel like they are on a journey with her, sharing in her intimate thoughts and emotions.
Overall, An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination is a powerful and captivating memoir that will resonate with anyone who has experienced loss or loves deeply. The book delivers a transformative experience that leaves you feeling like a changed person.
I give it five stars for its eloquent and evocative writing and for its ability to connect with readers on a human level. Anyone going through a hard time, whether it be related to motherhood or loss, should read this memoir.
