re: History of abortion in the U.S.

Quoting Stfu Shirley:" a LOT. The stats vary depending on the source, and it's impossible to really know because it was such ... [snip!] ... just before she died. There was just no birth control. So whether the husbands were good or bad, women were just...trapped."

Exactly. And in the book, he is a horrible drunk who spends all their money on liquor and ends up leaving her with all the kids to struggle. You should get the book, it's amazing.

Quoting Ellie.:" Exactly. And in the book, he is a horrible drunk who spends all their money on liquor and ends up leaving her with all the kids to struggle. You should get the book, it's amazing."

My mom tried to get me to read it years ago. I guess I should, but after spending most of the past year working on my g-gma's biography (not a real book, just collecting info for the family), I'm not sure I could handle it.

My g-gpa was a drunk, which is why the family was so poor. I think he lost it when the little boy died, as the family's situation seemed to spiral out of control around that year. So idk, maybe I'll borrow it from my mom in another year or two. I think right now it would just be kind of too much for me.

Quoting Stfu Shirley:" My mom tried to get me to read it years ago. I guess I should, but after spending most of the past year ... [snip!] ... So idk, maybe I'll borrow it from my mom in another year or two. I think right now it would just be kind of too much for me."

Wow... sounds so similar!   I'm sorry this is emotionally taxing on you. I hope you find some insight and closure

Quoting Ellie.:" I wonder what the statistics are on abortion back then. Or if there's even any record. My favorite book ... [snip!] ... of her kids died too. So I wonder how many abortions happened because husbands just didnt give a smurf and wanted their nut?"

Ugh, that book made me cry so much  

those poor little twins having only sugar water in their bottles   

Quoting .Colleen.:" Ugh, that book made me cry so much   those poor little twins having only sugar water in their bottles   "

I know!   I could not imagine. Seriously. I've read that book a million times, as well as his two subsequent novels.

Quoting Ellie.:" I know!   I could not imagine. Seriously. I've read that book a million times, as well as his two subsequent novels."

I was lucky to make it through the book once, it was just too depressing for me  

What else did he write?

Quoting Ellie.:" Wow... sounds so similar!   I'm sorry this is emotionally taxing on you. I hope you find some insight and closure"

It has been tough, but it has also been really rewarding. I feel like I have given my g-gma a voice and in a way, I've gotten to know her, after nobody even talked about her for 87 years. My mom has tons of old photos, and I have been able to go through them and identify all the people. We actually have a photo of my g-gma as a little girl. There was a big park near where they lived where they'd go get a picture taken on special occasions, and thankfully the pictures were all pretty well preserved. I'm so glad I took this project on, and some of my cousins are really appreciative too. In a weird way, I feel almost like I've released her. Like she didn't have to stay a dirty family secret forever, now we can understand and sympathize with her choices, and we can just love her.

Quoting .Colleen.:" I was lucky to make it through the book once, it was just too depressing for me   What else did he write?"

He wrote a book called 'Tis, which was when he left Ireland and came to America, and how he struggled with work/school, etc. Then Teacher Man, which is when he became a teacher in America. It's just the rest of his biography.   Tis is great, and not so depressing. lol

Quoting Ellie.:" He wrote a book called 'Tis, which was when he left Ireland and came to America, and how he struggled ... [snip!] ... which is when he became a teacher in America. It's just the rest of his biography.   Tis is great, and not so depressing. lol"

That is where I first heard the term "light in his loafers." I use it all the time.  

Quoting Amelia Margaret:" That is where I first heard the term "light in his loafers." I use it all the time.  "

Ha ha ha ha. I love that saying!