An Exact Replica of a Figment of my Imagination

this short memoir was heartbreaking and enlightening. for a reader who has never had a child, much less lost one, i felt like an honored guest invited in to witness grief and solace first-hand, and i am changed for the better because of it. elizabeth's heart is raw and brutally honest, so much so that she points the finger at friends who both buoyed her and failed her, and i kept wondering when and if they'd read about themselves. certain little things kept me from falling head-over-heels in love with this book - the lifestyle and the luxury that mccracken and her husband lived in no doubt helped pull them from grief quicker (with her descriptions of distant travel and gourmet meals) than they typical family who cannot afford such easy, lucky escapes. also, the fact that she subscribes to no faith denied the book of a spiritual dimension. she so matter-of-factly dismisses God and the afterlife, that hope dissipates. i'd give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. if nothing else, i've learned how to respond to loved ones better because of this book, and i've learned you don't shy away from the tragedies of life, paralyzing though they may seem.