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  • Life, Almost

  • Miscarriage, Misconceptions and a Search for Answers from the Brink of Motherhood
  • By: Jennie Agg
  • Narrated by: Jennie Agg
  • Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (16 ratings)

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Life, Almost cover art

Life, Almost

By: Jennie Agg
Narrated by: Jennie Agg
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

After losing four pregnancies with no obvious cause, Jennie Agg set out to understand why miscarriage remains such a profoundly misunderstood, under-researched and under-acknowledged experience.

Part-memoir, part-scientific investigation, Life, Almost documents Agg's path to motherhood and her search for answers. Tracing each tentative step of her fifth pregnancy—as her body becomes a creature she does not wish to spook—Agg dismantles the myths that we unquestioningly accept about our reproductive lives:

· Why are we told miscarriage can't be prevented when half of all miscarriages are of perfectly healthy embryos?

· Why is it normal not to tell anyone you're pregnant for the first three months?

· Why don't we know why labour starts?

Drawing on pioneering research and interviews with world-leading experts, Life, Almost is a ground-breaking book that will change how you think about miscarriage, and a moving reflection on grief and love at the edge of life as we understand it.

©2023 Jennie Agg (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Vital and heart-wrenchingly intimate, this is the miscarriage manifesto we need." (Leah Hazard, bestselling author of Hard Pushed)

"Beautiful, powerful and important... Essential reading for anyone who lives in a world where miscarriage happens - a book for us all." (Georgina Lucas, author of If Not for You)

"An urgent, fascinating and thought-provoking book that should pioneer new conversations." (Julia Bueno, author of The Brink of Being)

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What listeners say about Life, Almost

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Scientifically sound and well read

Quoting accurate scientific studies and with a powerful female lead narration that leaves you feeling empowered and informed even for areas that haven’t been researched well enough yet.
Very happy and satisfied with the pace, level and audience pitch of this book.

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Beautiful

Well written, sensitive and kind. Lovely soothing voice from the author. Just beautiful, so glad it exists.

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Beautifully crafted, honest and informative

This book is so carefully and thoughtfully put together and perfect for anyone who has been affected by pregnancy loss whether that’s directly or indirectly. Jenni is so honest and open about her own journey while trying to shed some light on why this happens. I have had so many meaningful conversations with different people since reading this book . I can’t recommend it highly enough.

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  • 25-05-23

A very special and valued book

I cannot express how much I appreciated this book and how held and seen it made me feel after my own 6 miscarriages. I saved so many sections to review again and I have told so many friends (those who have also had miscarriages and feel as lost and confused as I did following them) to read this incredibly important book. I cannot imagine how much work and energy went into writing this book so want to thank Jennie for sharing it with us all and for narrating it too. I especially valued hearing her story in her own voice and for providing so much insight and hope to those who has experienced unexplained pregnancy loss.

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A beautifully written, incredibly powerful book

I have finally found the book I have been wishing existed. A beautifully written, deeply insightful, thoroughly researched book. I highly recommend it.

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Eloquent and Brave

A fantastically written narrative with excellent balanced science and personal experience shared throughout. An open and brave portrayal of miscarriage, eloquently and kindly written. I am so grateful to the women who are able to narrate their story, sharing a valuable lesson for the world and reminding many they’re not alone. Thank you.

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I felt and related to every word of this book!

Parts of this book was like listening to my own journey but put into words my brain and heart couldn’t do itself, after losing two babies consecutively I went on to bring my 3rd baby into the world safely, I also had a covid baby.

I felt the book was structured in an excellent way and it was easy to keep up with. There was also a lot of information around miscarriages and research and facts and figures but it still remained personal and engaging

A truly wonderful book,

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Thankyou for this book

Thankyou is the best thing I could say. As someone in the midst of a fertility struggle still living with the limbo of what the outcome will be, I seek out anything that might help, much of which just doesn't feel right for me or helpful, but this book felt honest, relatable, and I'm very grateful for it, again, thank you

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Informative

Informative, honest, spot on. Would recommend this book not only to women and their partners who went through it but also to everyone planning a family.

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Beautiful, powerful and relatable

Having just experienced our fourth miscarriage, I picked up this audio book in hope for some understanding and comfort, and honestly can not believe how much this has helped me with my processing and healing.

Jennie has a gift of accurately portraying honest feelings and thoughts into words, which I continuously related to and has made this process much less of a lonely one. I cried throughout and I'm already looking forward to reading again.

Thank you so much x

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