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Content warning - Pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth, motherhood, abortion, embryo screening, post-partum bleeding.
In an era when the journey of conception, pregnancy, birth, and sometimes loss is often overshadowed by media and political interference, Louisa Hall's Reproduction stands out as a remarkable achievement.
Reproduction teems with the complexities of creating new life, urging readers to confront the monstrous challenges inherent in the process. The author begins with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, drawing parallels between Shelley's traumatic experiences and those of the narrator, a novelist bearing a strong resemblance to Hall herself.
The narrative, composed of various interwoven parts, shifts focus as Hall delves into her own harrowing experiences: the heartbreaking loss of a much-wanted child, the excruciating ordeal of carrying a subsequent pregnancy to term followed by severe haemorrhaging, and the challenges of a final pregnancy with an abnormal outcome. Each experience leaves a profound sense of isolation.
Through the story of a female scientist friend attempting to engineer her child, reminiscent of Frankenstein's experiments, Hall examines the ethical dilemmas and risks associated with genetically engineered human babies. The narrator reflects on the precarious nature of these choices, questioning the sanity of eliminating all risks in the pursuit of perfection.
While reading Reproduction, I initially found it challenging to discern the direction of the story, unsure if it was merely a harrowing recount of personal experiences. However, as I reached the end, everything clicked into place and had the lightbulb moment. From that moment, the book and the writing style blew my mind and I've discussed it at length with multiple people.
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