cover image Dear Barbara, Dear Lynne: The True Story of Two Women in Search of Motherhood

Dear Barbara, Dear Lynne: The True Story of Two Women in Search of Motherhood

Barbara Shulgold. Addison Wesley Publishing Company, $22 (236pp) ISBN 978-0-201-60841-0

Although many books address the emotional burdens and consequences of infertility, few are as deeply personal or as moving as this collection of letters between two strangers. In 1985, Shulgood, a teacher from California, and Sipiora, a human resources manager in Chicago, ``met'' through a newsletter published by RESOLVE (an organization for infertile couples) and for more than three years they corresponded about their mutual ordeal--the obsessiveness of their ``baby hunger''; the expense and indignity of infertility treatments; the long and harrowing adoption process, during which``birth mothers'' changed their minds and one baby died; and the ineffable joy of holding a newborn infant of one's own. Infertile couples will draw comfort and inspiration from Shulgood and Sipiora's hope, courage and sheer determination, all beautifully conveyed in this unusual book. Major ad/promo; author tour. (Oct.)