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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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Comments

  1. holdenj says

    December 10, 2010 at 1:16 pm

    Sounds like an interesting story. Thanks for the info!

    Reply
  2. Bethie says

    December 11, 2010 at 3:30 am

    Thanks for the giveaway

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    December 11, 2010 at 4:31 pm

    Oh, I love these pregnancy books…don’t make me miss being pregnant though, bt love to read them!!
    Clio

    Reply
  4. Bethie says

    December 11, 2010 at 7:03 pm

    Daily Entry 12/11

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    Reply
  5. holdenj says

    December 12, 2010 at 1:39 am

    Daily entry from snowy MN 12/11. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  6. holdenj says

    December 13, 2010 at 12:46 am

    Daily entry 12/12. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  7. Bethie says

    December 13, 2010 at 2:25 am

    Daily Entry 12/12

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    Reply
  8. holdenj says

    December 14, 2010 at 12:33 am

    Daily entry 12/13. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  9. Bethie says

    December 14, 2010 at 2:01 am

    Daily Entry 12/13

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    Reply
  10. holdenj says

    December 15, 2010 at 1:59 am

    Daily entry 12/14. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  11. Bethie says

    December 15, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    Daily Entry 12/15

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    Reply
  12. holdenj says

    December 15, 2010 at 11:51 pm

    Daily entry 12/15. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  13. holdenj says

    December 17, 2010 at 12:34 am

    Daily entry 12/16. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  14. holdenj says

    December 17, 2010 at 12:52 pm

    Daily entry 12/17. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  15. Bethie says

    December 18, 2010 at 4:36 am

    Daily Entry 12/17

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    Reply
  16. nicole s says

    December 18, 2010 at 5:49 am

    Daily entry
    12/17
    nicolesender@yahoo.com

    Reply
  17. Anonymous says

    December 18, 2010 at 5:54 pm

    Love the cover for this one too!!
    Clio

    Reply
  18. holdenj says

    December 18, 2010 at 8:38 pm

    Daily entry 12/18. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  19. nicole s says

    December 19, 2010 at 4:24 am

    Daily entry
    12/18
    nicolesender@yahoo.com

    Reply
  20. holdenj says

    December 19, 2010 at 10:50 pm

    Daily entry 12/19. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  21. nicole s says

    December 20, 2010 at 5:27 am

    Daily entry
    12/19
    nicolesender@yahoo.com

    Reply
  22. nicole s says

    December 21, 2010 at 4:02 am

    Daily entry
    12/20
    nicolesender@yahoo.com

    Reply
  23. holdenj says

    December 22, 2010 at 1:01 am

    Daily entry 12/21. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  24. nicole s says

    December 22, 2010 at 2:57 am

    Daily entry
    12/21
    nicolesender@yahoo.com

    Reply
  25. holdenj says

    December 22, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    Daily entry 12/22. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  26. nicole s says

    December 22, 2010 at 9:15 pm

    Daily enrty
    12/22
    nicolesender@yahoo.com

    Reply
  27. Bethie says

    December 23, 2010 at 1:39 am

    Daily Entry 12/22

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    Reply
  28. nicole s says

    December 23, 2010 at 9:21 am

    Daily entry
    12/23
    nicolesender@yahoo.com

    Reply
  29. Anonymous says

    December 23, 2010 at 11:58 am

    Visited her site and learned that her book has been optioned for a movie on Lifetime.

    monagarg@yahoo.com

    Reply
  30. Anonymous says

    December 23, 2010 at 11:58 am

    Daily entry 12/23

    monagarg@yahoo.com

    Reply
  31. holdenj says

    December 23, 2010 at 5:02 pm

    Daily entry 12/23. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  32. Bethie says

    December 23, 2010 at 5:20 pm

    Daily Entry 12/23

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    Reply
  33. nicole s says

    December 24, 2010 at 9:39 am

    Daily entry
    12/24
    nicolesender@yahoo.com

    Reply
  34. nicole s says

    December 25, 2010 at 8:26 am

    Daily entry
    12/25
    nicolesender@yahoo.com

    Reply
  35. Anonymous says

    December 25, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    Daily entry 12/25

    monagarg@yahoo.com

    Reply
  36. nicole s says

    December 26, 2010 at 8:48 am

    Daily entry
    12/26
    nicolesender@yahoo.com

    Reply
  37. holdenj says

    December 26, 2010 at 12:11 pm

    Daily entry 12/26. Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  38. Anonymous says

    December 26, 2010 at 1:40 pm

    Daily entry 12/26

    monagarg@yahoo.com

    Reply
  39. Nancye says

    December 27, 2010 at 4:05 am

    Daily Entry 12/26

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    Reply
  40. Nancye says

    December 27, 2010 at 4:07 am

    I went to the Alice Eve Cohen’s website and learned that “What I Thought I Knew” book was Oprah Magazine’s 25 Best Books of Summer. Pretty cool!

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    Reply
  41. nicole s says

    December 27, 2010 at 8:36 am

    daily entry
    12/27
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply
  42. Mary (BookHounds) says

    December 27, 2010 at 2:25 pm

    TAFFY — Be sure to stop by TAFFY’S WRITING

    An email has been sent to the lucky person named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner(s) has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

    Thanks to all who entered.

    Reply

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