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Hollow Heart: The True Story Of One Womans Desire To Give Life And How It Almos
In three attempts at in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) Martin Devlin lost nine embryos. But she also lost her marriage and her dreams of becoming a mother. The Hollow Heart describes Devlin's bewilderment at being diagnosed as infertile, the physical and emotional demands of going through IVF and the shattering fall-out when it failed. She also describes how her despair eventually faded, and how she learned to take pleasure in her extended family of nieces and nephews and, as her mother always advised, to count her blessings. "And in enumerating them I am struck by this. Their quantity."
- GenresMemoir
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2005
About the author
Martina Devlin
18 books30 followersMartina Devlin is an Irish novelist and journalist. She lives in Dublin with her husband David and their cat Chekhov - the latter snoozes at her feet and keeps her company while she writes. It's all a far cry from her Fleet Street days, when she went to Parkhurst (a maximum security prison) to meet gangland leader Reggie Kray, was shown how to do The Twist by the maestro Chubby Checker, and kept watch while Anthony Burgess of 'A Clockwork Orange' filled his pockets with all the uneaten cakes at their interview over afternoon tea. She has had nine books published, beginning in 2000. Her work has won a number of prizes including the Royal Society of Literature's VS Pritchett Prize and a Hennessy Literary Award, and she was twice shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards. A current affairs commentator for the Irish Independent, Martina has been named columnist of the year by the National Newspapers of Ireland. She is vice-chairperson of the Irish Writers Centre, and has a certificate as a chartered director from the Institute of Directors. But none of that impresses Chekhov the cat.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 4, 2016
This book ended up in my house a few years back after a car boot sale and I finally decided to read it.
It was a quick read but I was annoyed towards the end of the book by Devlin's overuse of 'ous' words and complicated words in general. It's great to learn a few new words in a book but this was littered with pompous words. But I've made a list and will at least learn their meaning...
I appreciated the author's honesty of her journey of infertility. Infertility seems to be something that affects others but you never assume it will be you. So it was great to read of her experience. I can only imagine a fraction of the heartache she experienced losing her embryos and her 'finger-joint' baby. I hope I never do.
It was sad to see just 20 years ago just how much power/fear the Church still held. Even when it came a couple's longing for children.
I think one reason it was such an easy read was that since it was based in Ireland it was a lot more relateable compared to American/English novels.
I gave this 4/5 because although I appreciated her honest telling, she appears to be one of those well off city people, who made a few comments throughout the book I wasn't impressed with.
Quotes:
'Pick a man and make it work'
'Later the nurse's words returned to me and torrent abated. You did your best. That was worth something.'
'... I come slam-bang against the contrariness of fate. My mother had children because she had no option and I didn't have children because I had no option. She wouldn't have chosen to have so many, but loved us all anyway because of the mothering instinct.'
' I learned how depression can swamp a person, descending in a heavy blanket that suffocates...but it's unlike a physical pain in a leg or the stomach that can be isolated or contained - this pain is crushing your entire body.'
'It can take the longest time to realize that failing doesn't make you a failure. It makes you someone who cared enough to try.'
'Joie de vivre'
' Love the life you have, not the life you think you should have.'
'...because I believe its crucial to try. Misery alone does not kill us, although we imagine it can. It's essential to pursue what we want, regardless of the odds stacked against us. To dare, because at least by daring we have a chance of winning. The only obstacle is our own lack of hope.'
"A man told me recently, while he and his wife were preparing for IVF, that these were the words he intended to use to help her through. 'It's only a body... Don't get upset if it isn't doing what you want it to - that's unimportant. You're what's important. Our love for each other is what's important'. "
It was a quick read but I was annoyed towards the end of the book by Devlin's overuse of 'ous' words and complicated words in general. It's great to learn a few new words in a book but this was littered with pompous words. But I've made a list and will at least learn their meaning...
I appreciated the author's honesty of her journey of infertility. Infertility seems to be something that affects others but you never assume it will be you. So it was great to read of her experience. I can only imagine a fraction of the heartache she experienced losing her embryos and her 'finger-joint' baby. I hope I never do.
It was sad to see just 20 years ago just how much power/fear the Church still held. Even when it came a couple's longing for children.
I think one reason it was such an easy read was that since it was based in Ireland it was a lot more relateable compared to American/English novels.
I gave this 4/5 because although I appreciated her honest telling, she appears to be one of those well off city people, who made a few comments throughout the book I wasn't impressed with.
Quotes:
'Pick a man and make it work'
'Later the nurse's words returned to me and torrent abated. You did your best. That was worth something.'
'... I come slam-bang against the contrariness of fate. My mother had children because she had no option and I didn't have children because I had no option. She wouldn't have chosen to have so many, but loved us all anyway because of the mothering instinct.'
' I learned how depression can swamp a person, descending in a heavy blanket that suffocates...but it's unlike a physical pain in a leg or the stomach that can be isolated or contained - this pain is crushing your entire body.'
'It can take the longest time to realize that failing doesn't make you a failure. It makes you someone who cared enough to try.'
'Joie de vivre'
' Love the life you have, not the life you think you should have.'
'...because I believe its crucial to try. Misery alone does not kill us, although we imagine it can. It's essential to pursue what we want, regardless of the odds stacked against us. To dare, because at least by daring we have a chance of winning. The only obstacle is our own lack of hope.'
"A man told me recently, while he and his wife were preparing for IVF, that these were the words he intended to use to help her through. 'It's only a body... Don't get upset if it isn't doing what you want it to - that's unimportant. You're what's important. Our love for each other is what's important'. "
November 24, 2016
The Hollow Heart by Martina Devlin is non-fiction book in which the author walks us through the details of her 3 unsuccessful IVF (in-vitro fertilization) treatments, the 9 embryos that she lost, and a destroyed marriage that resulted from this. The feelings and thoughts that she describes are so raw and real that the readers can actually ���live��� the events described, not only read them. This physical and emotional battle leaves her feeling broken and shallow, but eventually she finds her happy ending ��� she takes great pleasure in being the aunt for her nieces and nephews. This gives her a reason to keep on going, although the pain and disappointment of not being able to be a mother will always be a constant part of her life.
I came across this book while doing a research paper on IVF for a religion class and I���m very glad I did. It is probably the best non-fiction book that I read so far and I recommend it to everyone.
I came across this book while doing a research paper on IVF for a religion class and I���m very glad I did. It is probably the best non-fiction book that I read so far and I recommend it to everyone.
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April 19, 2011I cried my flipping eyes out reading this memoir. An Irish woman has always wanted kids but focuses on her career in her twenties. She gets married at thirty, the main thing they seem to have in common is their desire to start a family. Devlin details the heartbreaking road of infertility diagnosis, IVF treatment and multiple miscarriages, along with the stress that ends her marriage. This story is remarkable in its commonality, yet for me it put some real details and wrenching emotion into a story that I've only heard at a distance. Hugged my kids extra tight after finishing.
November 19, 2016
I picked this up in a used book store during a trip to Ireland. I also picked up Devlin's novel "Ship of Dreams" that is set on thw Titanic, and I'm looking forward to reading it. "Hollow Heart" is heartbreaking. Devlin does a great job of relaying the raw emotion she felt during her unsuccessful journey to become a mother. In the end, she learns the hard way, as we all must do, that not everything is in our control. Life is about accepting that and then figuring out how to navigate through uncontrollable things.
July 31, 2012
An interesting book, I found it quite scary at how obssessed women can get about having a baby. Her writing was so real and I felt genuine sorrow for what she went through. Was a very interesting topic and such an eye opener into a very different world.
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November 7, 2015I read this book a few years ago and identified fully with it. Yes the author was obsessive but that hunger for a family just takes over your life. The tone is authentic, raw and nails the emotional intensity of anyone going through an infertility journey.
September 11, 2008
The autobiographival account of Martina Devlin's struggle with infertility full of medical facts and dealing with the emotional rollercoaster that is IVF.
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January 30, 2019Heartbreaking. Powerful. Stunning story. I still remember various details of the story though its been a few years since I read this book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews