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There are currently 31 member reviews
for Delicate Condition
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Sylvia T. (Rancho Mirage, CA)
A Modern Day Rosemary's Baby
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. And if you like thrillers, you'll want to rush out to pick up a copy. Once I started reading it, I had a very hard time putting it down; literally finishing it in two days! A word of caution if you're pregnant or if you're struggling through rounds of IVF, you might want to wait and read this book at a later time. In the meantime, I know I will anxiously be waiting for the next Danielle Valentine book!
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Alana G. (Palmetto Bay, FL)
If you've ever felt like motherhood has made you give something up
This book had me hooked from page one. If you have ever felt like you have given something up to motherhood, then this book is for you. The main character is so intent on becoming a mother, that she is willing to give it all up; from her sky-rocketing career as an actress (after many years in the trade) to her sanity. At one point she ponders over her reasons for wanting to become a mother.
As a mother myself, I have faced similar choices between family and career, and motherhood and womanhood, that made the premise of this book appealing to me. I also have a very close relative who had to go through several rounds of IVF and I have witnessed firsthand how tough on bodies and psyches that process can be. With that in mind, this book is not for the faint of heart, and on more than one occasion I found myself feeling anxious while reading it. There were some supernatural elements that I could have done without; IVF, pregnancy, and motherhood can be scary and overwhelming enough. Personally, the ending was not what I would have liked it to be, although there is a nice spotlight on the power of women supporting one another.
Readers who enjoyed Nightbitch, The Push, and Mrs. March will likely enjoy this novel as well.
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Amy E. (Delaware, OH)
Who Can I Trust?
Ms. Valentine tells the story through the voice of Anna Victoria Alcott who, after several rounds of IVF is finally pregnant. This pregnancy takes over her mind as well as her body. Perhaps being an actress in the limelight has made her a bit paranoid, however it does make for a page turner.
The author uses a less than pristine medical system, a less than truthful husband, friends who may not be who they seem to be, and the supernatural to weave a captivating tale. Add in a healthy dose of feminism and it is a great read!
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Terrie J. (Eagan, MN)
An interesting plot and fun ride
Delicate Condition was a fun read. It was a well written story of strong women, trusting one's instincts and witchcraft. While reading the book, my thoughts of the ending changed several times. I owe that to the author because she was able to weave intrigue throughout different aspects of the story. I thought the ending was perfect…it summed things up, but left it open to a sequel. I highly recommend this book to readers that like mystery.
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Rebecca G. (Havertown, PA)
Rosemarys Baby revisited
Not quite. But I loved the movie. I rooted so hard for Mia Farrow, hated her husband and her creepy neighbors. In the end, she was a mother and she wanted to take care of that little monster. I rooted for Anna the same. After all she'd been through I wanted her to have her baby. But there was no denying that something was going on; her stalkers, her hallucinations, her weird obsession with raw meat, and, oh my, her constant pain. Everyone was suspect and no one could be trusted, including her husband. I'm the end, she was also able to have a baby and to finally be a mother. This book is also something more. It's a metaphor for the lack of support for pregnant mothers who suffer pain, discomfort and weird cravings and are told to take an aspirin or take a bath. We, as mothers, need a support system, maybe not witches!, of women who know the pain and discomfort of pregnancy and know what to do and how to hold each others hands. I probably wouldn't recommend this book for pregnant women but for anyone who has given birth, it's a yes
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Portia A
Wow
Not the type of book I would normally read..but I’m glad I did. The author held my attention till the very end. I will say that this is a book for women, but that may be a prejudiced point of view. Please give it a try.
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Sue P. (Albuquerque, NM)
Delicate Condition
A slow starter, but definitely worth sticking with it. A very evocative book - suddenly, I was 21 years old again, losing my first baby to a miscarriage. The grief and mental anguish were spot on. I was a big fan of "Rosemary's Baby," so when I saw this book being compared to it, I was a bit skeptical. However, it is by turns terrifying and tender and the emotional journey of pregnancy, "normal" or not, was so well described that I could remember it vividly. A scary book, yes, but ultimately extremely satisfying.
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