The Early Birds: A Mother's Story for Our Times

I agree with most of the posts about the tangents, but since I was in a similar situation I was caught up in the "whole story". My boys were born at 30 weeks, spent 6 weeks in the NICU, and when they were finally released from the hospital, we had to fly them to our home on a remote island (where my husband was based at the time) with no real emergency care. Aside from the similariites, I thought Minton did a great job on writing and (editing) a book that was so personal to her. Almost wishing for an "Early Birds The Toddler-Preschool Years".

I gave birth to twins at 32 weeks in NYC this year and they spent 6 weeks in the NICU. About a week before they came home, I was sitting on my bed, crying and feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't have them home with me, when I saw Jenny on TV discussing her new book. I immediately picked it up from the library and read it in 2 days. It was so similiar to my own experience and I thought she did a wonderful job of sharing all aspects of life during this time. The major difference being my twins were spontaneous (not from fertility treatments). There were many similiarites in the small details like her husband looking for a job when they were born (mine was too) and her father in law's struggle with cancer (my mother in law was in the midst of her cancer battle at the time as well). Also her feelings about moving out of NYC to a house in the suburbs closer to her husband's new job(we did this about a month after they came home, too) This side information may have seemed irrelevant to some, but when you are so intent on focusing on your babies survival from a premature birth, the other things going on in your life can add such an extra stress that you don't know how you can handle it all. So thank you Jenny for putting together such a wonderful story. I'm so glad you did it because I am such a poor writer. If anyone ever wants to hear how I felt through my experience I can point them to your book and tell them to read it because it says all that I would have wanted to say in an effortless, easy to read format.

I happened to see author Jenny Minton on the Today Show yesterday morning, and although I'm not a mother, I was so moved by the depth of Jenny's feeling for her prematurely-born babies that I bought her book yesterday afternoon. I stayed up most of the night reading it. Early Birds is a marvelously intelligent memoir, crafted with wit as well as passion, and I'd recommend it for any woman concerned with premature delivery -- or any person who simply wants a fantastic read.

This book has universal human appeal, not only because Minton tells the story in such direct and honest terms, but also because her writing is in itself exquisite. Whether readers are parents themselves or just human beings, this story is compelling. By the end of the book, every reader will celebrate Jenny Minton and her family-not only for exhibiting courage and resilience while surviving, but for opening their experience and their hearts to all of us.

This book made me cry, it made me laugh, it made me smile. This was a great read. Even though I am not a mother myself, this book utterly moved me. Minton's account of her relationship with her husband, family and friends during this time would reach out to anyone. And as for the bigger issue, the infertility, pregnancy, birth and struggles of her boys, who could not be touched by this? To top it all off, Minton has pledged 50% of the royalties of this book to the March of Dimes - who wouldn't want to buy it?! I cannot remember the last time I couldn't put a book down like this. By far, the best book I've read this year.