The memoir projects and captures the journey to fertility embarked on by Elizabeth and her husband Richard. The couple navigated through different medical and geographical terrains amidst loses of seven pregnancies, in a bid to become biological parents. Elizabeth finds herself bedeviled by several and complicated infertility problems such as: PCOS, Antiphospholipid syndrome, arcuate uterus and inviable eggs. Moreover, the memoir without mincing words, is a compendium as well as a medical hand book on infertility. It is laden with copious medical jargons and conditions which makes it difficult for a novice in medicine to comprehend. Howbeit, it has detailed examination of different female infertility problems which impede conception and their manifestations.
Katkin bequeaths realism on her memoir by engaging real life instances of couples’ journey to fertility. The memoir, is a morale booster, the experiences recounted resonate resilience and determination. Moreover, Conceivability is packed with information on reproductive health that it can effortlessly qualify as a medical text book. The author captures in chronological order her efforts to navigate through infertility, this narrative style sustains the attention of a reader to the end of the story.
In a vein similar, Katkin exhibits an artistic mastery despite the fact that Conceivability is her debut novel. Thus, she adopts the peculiar style of elaborately discussing the medical challenges she suffered. Hence, the first person point of view engaged, enable the vivid portrayal of the author’s predicaments.
Also, through this, a reader can become acquainted with the medical conditions and as such sympathize with the narrator. Besides, the author through her style of narration carries the reader along in her journeys. This is significant in that the memoir elicits empathy from the reader towards the narrator. In sum, this narrative technique endows on the memoir’s credibility. Additionally, the inclusion of statistical data such as research findings on infertility therapies and dates, sets the memoir as a plausible piece. Particularly, IVF live birth rate in Russia and Ukraine 7% on a side and that of the United States and the United Kingdom on the other 30% and 25% respectively.
Furthermore, Katkin’s memoir is a masterpiece for transcending continental divides. The author makes it appealing by capturing the medical interventions and therapies available outside the American society. This places the memoir ahead of others and a better option for women experiencing diverse infertility problems. Conceivability reflects medical practices in Russia, the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirate. It is a significant compendium of hybrid medical perceptions and procedures for talking about infertility. From the foregoing, it is clear that the author has an affection for blends which is explicit in the memoir. Being embellished with research findings and personal experiences; invariably, it is a salad bowl.
Markedly, Katkin through the memoir castigates the exploitative nature of infertility treatments and the indifferent attitudes often displayed by nurses in relationship with clients and which contradicts their professional ethics. Howbeit, the author’s journey is rewarding with the birth of her baby girl through the assistance of a surrogate. The author perhaps for this reason devotes space to discuss the dynamics in surrogacy especially gestational surrogacy across various continents. Apparently, Katkin again transverses continents to capture the varying positions on surrogacy.
*************
Victory Okpala is a lecturer in the Use of English Unit of the School of General Studies, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria. She holds BA and MA in English, from Anambra state University and Babcock University respectively. She is a doctoral student at Babcock University Ilishan Ogun State, Nigeria and has interests in interdisciplinary research. To relax, she enjoys reading and cooking.