An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination

Reviewed by Ellen Hartman on October 6th, 2008, 10:35am

by Elizabeth McCracken

Format: Print Books

Series:

An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination is a slender, heart-achingly beautiful memoir by the writer, Elizabeth McCracken. I have not read McCracken’s other work but I’m going to rectify that oversight promptly.

Here’s how the book starts:

Once upon a time, before I knew anything about the subject, a woman told me that I should write a book about the lighter side of losing a child.
(This is not that book.)

This book is about losing a child and it’s about being married and about having a child and about risk and loss and love and hope and not hope and hope again. And despite not being light it is funny at times.

Anyone who has lost a baby knows that it’s a particular, peculiar kind of loss, the death of someone you never got to know and yet love so much. McCracken walked me through her experience and gave me back some pieces of mine. Unflinching and tender. Quite a feat to combine those two lenses and yet, it worked beautifully.

Ellen

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