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The Birth of the Pill by Jonathan Eig - Book Review

"...The Pill was The Pill because it was the only one that mattered, the one everyone was talking about, the one they needed.”

I bought The Birth of the Pill from an indie bookstore during a vacation in West Texas. I was very interested in the history of contraception, especially regarding the pill. In large part, this is because the pill has evolved into more than just a tool for contraception. The pill is now an avenue to regulate menstrual cycles, control pain from cramps, clear stubborn acne, and more. It was so interesting to read about the inception of the birth control movement and the creation of the pill.

What I loved about The Birth of the Pill is the structure. The author, Jonathan Eig, tells the stories of four different significant figures within the contraception movement. By doing this he turns a lengthy and complicated historical piece into something more akin to a fiction novel's narrative. Four main characters - feminist movement spearhead Margaret Sanger, the passionate and wealthy Katherine McCormick, determined biologist Gregory Pincus, and unconventional Catholic doctor John Rock, are the biggest drivers of the birth control movement during this time.

Let’s move on to a brief summary of these four characters. I’m barely scratching the surface here, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to write a little about how these four band together!

Margaret Sanger’s mission for life was to make birth control universally available to all women regardless of their circumstances. In a time when it was widely unaccepted by most, she pushed people to consider the benefits of contraception and often challenged legislature that prevented women from accessing information and products related to birth control. She was the founder of the American Birth Control League, which would eventually become the Planned Parenthood Federation. When she met biologist Gregory Pincus in 1951, they got to work right away on developing a safe and effective birth control method, the pill.

Gregory Pincus was a biologist who was extremely well-versed in reproductive science. He tested his biological research on rabbits, such as IVF and hormone injections. In a time of skepticism regarding topics such as “babies born in glass”, he was ostracized for his bold research by the general public as well as his academic peers. Pincus would eventually get involved with Sanger and Katherine McCormick to develop a birth control pill. His research on hormones gave him the confidence he could deliver. He collaborated with Dr. John Rock, a distinguished obstetrician and gynecologist, who believed in the cause due to his experience seeing women suffer during unwanted pregnancies in his clinic.

Dr. John Rock worked in obstetrics and gynecology and was a Harvard professor who educated students on birth control. He published a book, Voluntary Parenthood, that served as a guide to birth control for the general population. He agreed to work with Pincus on the pill and became essential to the movement not only in research but as a presentable representation of the cause. As a devout Catholic, he gave hope to those who would deny birth control for religious reasons. Rock spoke out frequently about the Church’s unfair opposition to the pill. He challenged the views about the interplay of religion and contraception, which was key to mass acceptance of birth control.

Katherine McCormick was essentially the sole benefactor of the creation of the pill. McCormick was born into a wealthy family in Chicago and earned her bachelor’s in biology from MIT. Much like Margaret Sanger, she was a woman’s rights activist during a period when controlling women’s minds and bodies was still a societal norm. These two daring women meet and form an unstoppable force against the stigmas about contraception. McCormick’s inheritance left to her by her husband gave her complete freedom to back the birth control movement. Anytime Pincus needed funds to continue research or testing, McCormick was there with her checkbook.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about contraception or women’s history. It could be a touch too in-depth for some readers, but I found the experience to be rewarding overall! If this brief summary interests you, I would strongly encourage you to dive into the book. There are so many intriguing details that went into the production of the pill, and all the moving parts involved kept me engaged throughout.

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Yumi and the Nightmare Painter - Book Review

In a highly imaginative and heart-filled novel, Sanderson highlights the importance of storytelling through a beautiful duality between the main characters. He brilliantly weaves together the lives of two protagonists whose lives are quite different. The convergence of these two seemingly opposite worlds reveals that sometimes our differences are what makes us truly complementary.

Our main characters, Yumi and Painter, both think of themselves as somewhat opposites. Yumi has devoted her entire life to the spirits, binding them by abstract artistic ritual to offer services to the inhabitants of Torio. Nikaro (Painter) works as a nightmare painter in the city of Kilahito, fending off monster-like manifestations of nightmares from its people. Yumi, with her naive optimism and unwavering determination is contrasted with the serious outcast Painter, whose artistry is a reflection of the nightmares that terrorize his city and represent a perpetual threat to safety.

Yumi and Painter have the profound realization that they share more in common than they initially realize. As they confront their fears and embark on a journey of self-discovery together, they begin to recognize that their differences only make them stronger. What I enjoyed the most about the narrative of these two characters is how they showcase the power of empathy and understanding. By learning more about each other (rather unconventionally so), they became more optimistic and confident about the challenges they were facing personally and situationally. I loved how emotional the end portion of the novel was, and everything wrapped up nicely.

This book hit so many marks for me. I'm sure I'll re-read it someday! I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy or romance, and especially those who like the best of both worlds (like me). The magic system was incredibly interesting, but I didn't touch on it here because it's going to hit you harder the less you know. Anyone who loves unique magic systems would enjoy this read too!

The more I find myself reading Sanderson, the more I want to venture into the Stormlight Archive. Hopefully one day…

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Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson - Book Review

Warbreaker is a captivating epic fantasy of self-discovery, love, and politics. Sanderson immerses the reader in the lives of two sisters, Siri and Vivenna, who navigate political intrigue, conflicting faiths, and of course, magic. The magic system in Warbreaker highlights Sanderson’s ability to craft a spectacular magical framework that feels comprehensive and satisfying. Discovering the intricacies of Biochromatic magic and the manipulation of Breath as the narrative progresses was captivating.

The story is weaved together across multiple storylines and character perspectives. All of the characters in Warbreaker are wrestling with their own internal dilemmas and have a beautiful depth to them. This menagerie of masterfully written characters provides the reader with many unique viewpoints regarding the main conflicts of the plot.

I found the world building to be effortless and inviting, with no bombardments of excessive information. There are sections in the book where Sanderson details complexities regarding the magic system or the various religions, which I found to be pleasantly explanatory. However, for readers that don’t often delve into fantasy or are unfamiliar with Sanderson’s work, I can see how it might feel intense.

The only disappointing thing about Warbreaker is that it ended, and I so desperately wanted more. The conclusion is abrupt, leaving the reader with unanswered questions and unresolved conflicts, but I was so absorbed by the story and characters that I couldn’t be upset by it.

For any fans of the fantasy genre and even beyond, Warbreaker will be a treat. It is emotional, mesmerizing, and insightful. It keeps you invested from start to finish, and when it’s over you can look over the backmatter for dessert. Sanderson has publicly stated that there are plans for a sequel to Warbreaker, but it is currently on hold. At risk of sounding like a broken record, I’ll end on this: Sanderson is a master of the genre, and every curious reader should dip their toes into his work at least once!