Customer Reviews

Inconceivable

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book shares the author's journey of learning to accept the fact that she'll never be able to conceive children. Her story begins in 1988, when her doctor discloses the dreaded news. She said his words became like "a constant, haunting hum in my head, like a song you can't shake -- a song with the power to drive you insane. His voice was inescapable."

Shannon Woodward explores her pain and subsequent healing in intimate detail for readers. She takes us back to her childhood, where she first looks out at the stars and wonders if God even exists, and she shares with us how her faith began to grow.

She takes us with her to every scene, filling each memory with description and dialogue which reads like the best of storytelling. We reach the point with her when she and her husband decide to adopt -- and we agonize with her frustration when birth mother after birth mother changes her mind.

One of the most poignant scenes in the book is when she and her husband are bringing home their first adopted son, Zachary, whose name means, "The Lord has remembered." As their new little son is bundled in soft blankets in the car seat, she and her husband look up and see an oversized, lighted marquis hovering above a used car lot. In bold black letters, the sign reads, "Congratulations, Dave and Shannon. It's a boy." They never learned who wrote that message.

The book takes readers up to the present, where we see how Shannon's journey has helped her become a mother to many. She has an active ministry in mentoring and encouraging hundreds of women through her speaking and writing.

There are some books I read once, then set aside, without feeling a change. Shannon Woodward's book is one I'll read again and again, always remembering how the blessing of motherhood is a gift not to be taken lightly. The back of the book contains a wonderful reader's guide which includes discussion questions for each chapter.

This is a must-read for anyone who struggles with infertility; Shannon's transparency gives readers the support they need to move toward peace.

"Inconceivable: Finding Peace in the Midst of Infertility" is an excellent book that I highly recommend.

If you suffer from infertility, or know someone who does, you must buy this book and read it. The author of this book doesn't tell you how to fix your infertility, but she does share many things that will cut to your soul. This book has a wonderful ending, but it doesn't end with her conceiving. The ending is the kind of ending that infertile people can hope for and achieve without spending thousands of dollars for infertility treatments.

Shannon Woodward shares her struggles with infertility in a very transparent and non-candycoated way. She shares the frustrations that only someone who is infertile can experience. She is so open and honest about her thoughts and feelings--things I have felt but would never say to another person for fear of being an outcast.

This book has changed my life and my outlook on my own infertility. I want other ladies to know and experience the peace that I now have.

I am absolutely awed by Shannon Woodward's ability to tell this story. A story lived by many, but voiced by far too few.

She has taken this uncomfortable and sometimes extremely painful journey and helped forge a way to healing.

I would highly recommend this book to any women who is struggling with issues surrounding infertility. Sometimes it's good to know you're not walking through darkness alone.

Being a woman who's been through five miscarriages, I could sense the comfort and hope that this book brings to those who are unable to conceive. The loss of a pregnancy or the fact that you can't conceive at all can be a dark place in one's life.

The author's own experience offers hope and opens new paths for women who need a hand to guide them through this dark time.

As with her last book, Shannon Woodward paints vivid pictures with her words, in a style that is unique to her writing.

In this book, Shannon Woodward basically shares her personal story and struggle with infertility. While I related to many of the feelings she expressed, and found some things helpful in the book, overall I did not identify with most of what she wrote about. Her book largely covers her pursuit of adoption, and the many failed attempts she endured. While I found her stories engaging, I personally have not chosen the adoption route. I have pursued my path more through medical intervention to conceive biological children, and very little was mentioned in her book about this option, mostly because she seemed to have barely pursued it. I do think this is a good book, but I wish that I had been able to get more of a picture of what this book actually covered before I had purchased it.

This book is a must read for anyone facing infertility. I have been searching for other women's stories that have been through this struggle, particularly from a Christian perspective because this is one of those issues that can really test your faith. Fortunately I came across Shannon's book in my search and I just finished reading it. Infertility is still an uncomfortable subject for most to talk about, especially for those who have not ever experienced it and even for some who have faced it. It has been comforting to find and read Shannon Woodward's story and know that I am not alone in this. I found myself relating to a lot of the things she went through and was feeling.
I'm thankful that God used this woman's story to touch my heart and soul. While I am a Christian, I did not find her book to be overly religious. I felt Shannon was refreshingly honest and transparent in her struggles and she used scripture where needed. I valued her insight on how her path of infertility has shaped and changed her relationship with God. While we may not always understand why God is or isn't allowing us to experience something, this book helped change my perspective. While it was a journey for her to get to this point, some of God's greatest gifts come to us in ways we never imagined.

As a Christian struggling w/ infertility, this book was a great comfort to me. The feelings of the author were so real and accurate - something I deal w/ daily. I only wish I would've taken the time to do the study in the back of the book while I read it. I just read it too quickly.

Absolutely excellent book. It was fun to read Shannon's personal story, but it brought me back to terms with how my relationship with God is so very intertwined with infertility. A fun read and a lot of thought-provoking areas.

Best book I've picked up in a long time! It was wonderful to realize that Christ has been there with me the whole time instead of feeling like he is making me infertile because I am a bad person. Her journey was so beautiful.

The book took the reader through the many challenges one faces during the infertility journey. It was rather depressing at times but did end with a good message about "trusting God".