GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: What I Thought I Knew by Alice Eve Cohen

December 10, 2010 By Mary 42 Comments

Description

“Darkly hilarious…an unexpected bundle of joy.”
–O, The Oprah Magazine

Alice Cohen was happy for the first time in years. After a difficult divorce, she had a new love in her life, she was raising a beloved adopted daughter, and her career was blossoming. Then she started experiencing mysterious symptoms. After months of tests, x-rays, and inconclusive diagnoses, Alice underwent a CAT scan that revealed the truth: she was six months pregnant.

At age forty-four, with no prenatal care and no insurance coverage for a high-risk pregnancy, Alice was besieged by opinions from doctors and friends about what was ethical, what was loving, what was right. With the intimacy of a diary and the suspense of a thriller, What I Thought I Knew is a ruefully funny, wickedly candid tale; a story of hope and renewal that turns all of the “knowns” upside down.

About the Author

Alice Eve Cohen is an award-winning playwright, solo theater artist, and memoirist. The recipient of numerous fellowships and grants, she teaches at The New School and lives in New York City.

Details

Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics); 1 edition (May 25, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0143117653
ISBN-13: 978-0143117650

SOURCE: AUTHOR / PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS:
ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT

I adored this book! Once I started reading What I Thought I Knew, I couldn’t put it down. This is one memoir that will stick with you and you will want to read about the next chapter of Alice Eve Cohen’s life. I have just found out that she is working on another memoir so I can find out what happened next. Normally, memoirs are just one story, but this one left me wanting a bit more. I become so wrapped up in the author’s life that I can’t wait to find out how everything turned out.

The book takes you through all of the heart breaking decisions that Cohen had to make with her health and that of her unborn child. It put a face on the major problem that the lack of healthcare can have on a person. Even when that person has access to doctors and minimal health insurance, it is difficult to obtain quality care. Cohen finds herself with serious of bewildering symptoms. She is told that she is in early menopause and told she can’t possibly get pregnant. A series of blunders by multiple doctors leads to serious complications when that turns out to be untrue.

This is also a cautionary tale of how people shouldn’t believe whatever their doctors’ tell them at face value and that they need to take an active part in their health. Even when Cohen tried to do this, she was shot down for trying to be proactive in asking for a pregnancy test. I mean, did you know that those tests are only accurate during the first three months after conception? She is really lucky that everything turned out somewhat in her favor and that her daughter was born with issues that could be helped. I really think that Cohen did every woman a favor by writing this book.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

Contest is open to anyone with a US mailing address.

Contest ends on 12.26.10 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 12.27.10
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is sponsored by the Alice Eve Cohen and Me! and one book will be available.
Only one winner per household address!

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