Expectations: 30 Women Talk about Becoming a Mother [Hardcover]

Laurie Wagner (Author), Anne Hamersky (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1998

When a woman gives birth to a child, her life is altered forever and in ways she might never expect. Expectations presents 30 new mothers and their thoughts on that life-changing event. Through profound, touching interviews and dynamic portraits of mother and child, Laurie Wagner and Anne Hamersky -- both with young ones themselves -- offer a view of motherhood in all its contradictions and contentment. Working moms, women who swore they'd never have kids, mothers of triplets, moms from all walks of life speak out in these refreshingly frank discussions of relationships, the body, self-image, careers, worry, joy, and so much more. A celebration and an exploration, this beautiful volume is a journey into the uniquely intimate relationship between mother and child.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Pictures of mothers and their babies have always been a focus of art--as evidenced by the prevalence of Madonna and child paintings gracing the walls of museums around the world. Expectations, by photographer Anne Hamersky and writer Laurie Wagner, continues this artful tradition. Hamersky's beautiful portraits of thirty new mothers are accompanied by Wagner's text, based on in-depth interviews.

These mothers range from a successful artist to a young drug addict to adoptive parents to the mother of triplets. The stories of the women encompass a complex range of emotions--not only "full-bodied, heart-wrenching, breath-stopping love," but confusion, disaster, ambivalence, sorrow, fatigue, and bemusement, too. The breadth of experience reflected in the text, combined with the portraits of real people, sends a powerful message to new mothers: Mom, you are not alone. --Ericka Lutz

About the Author

Anne Hamersky has taken photographs that have appeared in numerous publications and exhibitions. The mother of two-year-old Josef, she lives in San Francisco.

Laurie Wagner is a San Francisco Bay Area writer who collarborated with David Collier on For Better of For Worse.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811816745
• ISBN-13: 978-0811816748
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,441,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended!, January 28, 2000

By 

J. Nordstrom (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Expectations: 30 Women Talk about Becoming a Mother (Hardcover)

This book is beautiful and moving-- the voices are real and diverse, the photography is stunning, and the content meaningful. As someone who is still contemplating having children, I wanted to hear about it "first-hand," and this book gave me a lot of insights. I think it would be helpful to anyone (male or female) considering children, as well as for those who have just entered the realm of parenthood. You won't regret your purchase!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Expectations: 30 women talk about becoming a mother, November 23, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Expectations: 30 Women Talk about Becoming a Mother (Hardcover)

I loved this book! I read many baby/pregnancy books while waiting for the birth of our daughter, and this one was definitely the most meaningful, useful, and enjoyable. The stories are absorbing and thought-provoking, and the photos are lovely. A fabulous gift for a pregnant woman or new mother.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars gift for my daughter, November 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Expectations: 30 Women Talk about Becoming a Mother (Hardcover)

I just bought this lovely book for my daughter who is facing a pregnancy alone at 26- Of course I had to delay sending it to her so that I could read it from start to finish- very absorbing- I hope it will help her to realize that she does not have to fit any certain mold to be a mother- This book includes 30 different profiles of mothers. My daughter's story could be #31. I think these women's reflections on what their children mean to them and the changes in their lives will be very helpful to my own daughter. I recommend it for anyone contemplating parenthood. I think it is more helpful than any how-to book could ever be be.