Tissue

by Madison Griffiths

‘wide-ranging, defiant and impassioned’ – Fiona Wright, author of The World Was Whole

What does it mean to terminate a pregnancy?

In Tissue, Madison Griffiths turns her keen eye to the topic of abortion in a meditative and personal look at a procedure that is common yet vilified, championed yet sometimes grieved. Tissue looks at the feelings of guilt around choice, exploring the language we use, or don’t, and how the silence shapes the way we think and feel about the act.

Abortion has many facets. Tissue lays each of them bare, meticulously unravelling how the world-at-large responds to abortion, inviting us into the messy and complex realities imbedded in such a politicised act of agency. 

At a time when women around the world are losing their right to access safe abortion, this book is needed more than ever.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism

Kindle Edition

Published July 5, 2023

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

INCREDIBLE. Madison articulated so many aspects of what it means to have an abortion in a way I have been searching for. Tissue is a beautiful encapsulation of abortion as an act of liberation, an act of love yet doesn’t shy away from its many cruel and terrible faces.

I loved this book more than my words can describe. Highly recommend.

[Ilayda Mader · Rating 2 out of 5]

After buying the book at the an event where Madison read some of the book and answered I felt very intrigued. Then I started reading the book and many articles released as part of PR for it. I kept trying and trying to read it but something about it is off. I ask myself if I’m being cruel in disliking the book? The way the book and those articles are written just don’t sit well with me. It feels like a high school creative writing project. I wish someone I know would read it so I could discuss it with them and see if my view of this book is cooked or not.

[Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tissue is a incredibly articulated and tender exploration about the many faces of abortion, the female experience and finding one’s agency.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book just couldn’t decide what it wanted to be

[Rachael Marren]

just in time #bookclub

[Devika Suri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written:) captures the ebbs and flows of what it’s like having an abortion, being a queer woman in a world where parts of it has removed that very choice and autonomy over their own body. Covers so many interesting themes; I particularly loved the two chapters, ‘Redness’ and ‘Tickle’. So so goooood

[Caitlin McManus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Proud of Madison for putting herself into writing this and getting it published! If only we could see where this life would take you 15 years ago at Boost 🍌 🍏

[Zoe Brittain · Rating 1 out of 5]

I kept waiting for this book to turn into the type of book the reviews spoke about, but it never seemed to happen. I'm not sure if the ways in which it was advertised misrepresented the book and therefore impacted my expectations, but I just found it extremely unrelatable on a personal level. But this might just be me, and I can understand how it might be meaningful to women who relate more to the author. I really struggled to slog through this and it was almost a DNF

[milliebrewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

a really important read, now more than ever. the subject matter automatically gets 5 stars, but the execution was not as great. something about the flow between each section was off to me, and i felt like the book could've been about 100 pages shorter. i think this book was trying to do too much at once, almost as if the author was trying to write the absolute 'essential' book about abortion- when in reality, she could have just stuck to one form, whether it be memoir, informative essay, or literary criticism. i also think it got quite repetitive, especially during the second half. honestly, i think the reviews i had seen for this book led me to believe it was something different than it is, and my experience would have been more positive if i went in not knowing anything about this book except the general theme. overall, i would still recommend, because abortion is such an important topic to learn and read about, and i really commend the author for sharing such a personal experience and for adding to the representation and conversation surrounding abortion. ABORTION IS HEALTHCARE!!!!!!!

[Thabani Tshuma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Necessary, devastating, gorgeous, and masterfully strewn with Griffiths' signature candor. Tissue delves into the 'architecture of abortion' with precision, nuance, and a tremendous amount of care. It serves the multifunctions of treatise, deconstruction, confession, and love letter! Melding the most essential aspects of what considered discourse can be. Griffiths pulls no punches, and each piece gracefully invites the reader into a poetic pas de deux across the page. I laughed, cried, and was called to look at myriad shades of selfhood with deeper scrutiny. An Absolutely stellar work. Pick it up if you haven't already.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

griffiths thoroughly, poetically and inclusively articulates the nuances of what it means to be a woman and to face the layers of patriarchal encumbrances to equality, pleasure and freedom 💖 what a liberating and refreshing read!

[Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earnest insights and a very humanising, relatable approach to the topic. Griffith paints a vivid depiction of an experience many of us will never directly know.

[Lucy Stephenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very talented writer. Loved this

[Kate Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

lifechanging

[Caddyshack Project · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caddyshack three word review:
Reflective, nuanced & deeply personal

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book could not have come at a better time, it gave me the language to support and empower my and my friends claims to autonomy