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Catalogue Baby
A deeply moving tragicomic graphic memoir about a single woman’s efforts to conceive in her forties.
A few months after Myriam Steinberg turned forty, she decided she couldn’t wait any longer to become a mother. She made the difficult decision to begin the process of conceiving a child without a partner. With her family and friends to support her, she picked a sperm donor and was on her way.
But Myriam’s journey was far from straightforward. She experienced the soaring highs and devastating lows of becoming pregnant and then losing her babies. She grappled with the best decision to make when choosing donors or opting for a medical procedure. She experienced first-hand the silences, loneliness, and taboos that come with experiences of fetal loss. Unafraid to publicize her experiences, though, she found that, in return, friends and strangers alike started sharing their own fertility stories with her. Although the lack of understanding and language around fetal loss and grief often made it very hard to navigate everyday life, she nonetheless found solace in the community around her who rallied to support her through her journey.
Through it all, Myriam remained hopeful and here she unflinchingly shares her story with wry humour, honesty, and courage. Beautifully illustrated by Christache, Catalogue Baby is one woman’s story of tragedy and beating the odds, and is a resource for all women and couples who are trying to conceive. Catalogue Baby is a compassionate portrait of fertility and infertility that hasn’t been seen before.
A few months after Myriam Steinberg turned forty, she decided she couldn’t wait any longer to become a mother. She made the difficult decision to begin the process of conceiving a child without a partner. With her family and friends to support her, she picked a sperm donor and was on her way.
But Myriam’s journey was far from straightforward. She experienced the soaring highs and devastating lows of becoming pregnant and then losing her babies. She grappled with the best decision to make when choosing donors or opting for a medical procedure. She experienced first-hand the silences, loneliness, and taboos that come with experiences of fetal loss. Unafraid to publicize her experiences, though, she found that, in return, friends and strangers alike started sharing their own fertility stories with her. Although the lack of understanding and language around fetal loss and grief often made it very hard to navigate everyday life, she nonetheless found solace in the community around her who rallied to support her through her journey.
Through it all, Myriam remained hopeful and here she unflinchingly shares her story with wry humour, honesty, and courage. Beautifully illustrated by Christache, Catalogue Baby is one woman’s story of tragedy and beating the odds, and is a resource for all women and couples who are trying to conceive. Catalogue Baby is a compassionate portrait of fertility and infertility that hasn’t been seen before.
304 pages, Paperback
First published March 2, 2021
3 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
October 1, 2022
This book was hard to write. At times, I felt as if I was going in circles of life and death, life and death, life and death - on repeat without respite. pg. 0
This is a devastating, heart-rending, emotional graphic novel about Myriam Steinberg's quest to conceive.
I've said before that I'm not a crier, especially when it comes to books, but this is the second one in the last month that has brought me to tears. The other is Raising a Rare Girl: A Memoir by Heather Lanier.
We follow Myriam, a straight woman, as she obeys her biological clock (shown holding a shotgun to Myriam's head) and pulls out all the stops in order to get pregnant.
She's already 40.
It's a horrible, devastating, tragic journey and Steinberg really holds nothing back as she discusses miscarriage after miscarriage, and even an abortion. It's brutal.
Not to say it's without it's humorous moments! Here's a more lighthearted excerpt:
"Mommy, how are babies made?"
"Well...
When 2 people love each other
There's these birds, you see, and these bees.... and...
When the penis enters the vagina
An egg goes from the ovary to the uterus...
When a man goes in one room and a woman goes in another room...
And poof! The magic of science! pg. 151
Myriam tries everything: friends donating sperm, anonymous sperm donors, IUI, IVF, etc. etc. It's very emotionally harsh and it offers a very clear and raw view of what a single woman's crusade to get herself pregnant entails.
I would highly, highly recommend this book. It's an amazing book. HOWEVER. If you do not feel like you are in the right emotional place to read this, if you think reading about these endless miscarriages and even an abortion will upset you too much due to your past or your present, skip it. It's not worth sinking into a depression over. Please tread cautiously.
For anyone interested in spoilers, MAJOR SPOILER MAJOR SPOILER
TL;DR - Just an amazing book. This topic is unexplored. Usually even fertility memoirs involve the woman having a partner (male or female), seeing a book about a single woman's dogged pursuit of pregnancy was a welcome insight. I also think it really illustrates the realities of abortion and miscarriage and explores what these do to someone's psyche. She's extremely honest. Whether you are pro-choice or anti-choice or pro-abortion or anti-abortion, I would still recommend this highly. I think her perspective is valuable and touching.
Be advised that it does feature graphic panels, obviously. Myriam is nude sometimes, she's often at the OB-GYN, she is shown in heart-rending panels to be going through miscarriages and her abortion. It's a brutal, brutal book and that includes some of the artwork. Vulvae are shown occasionally (not in a sexual manner) and birth is shown.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Miscarriage, abortion, despair.
I can't recommend it enough, but you know if you can handle this book or not. Make your own determination as it is highly sensitive material.
NAMES IN THIS BOOK
This is a devastating, heart-rending, emotional graphic novel about Myriam Steinberg's quest to conceive.
I've said before that I'm not a crier, especially when it comes to books, but this is the second one in the last month that has brought me to tears. The other is Raising a Rare Girl: A Memoir by Heather Lanier.
We follow Myriam, a straight woman, as she obeys her biological clock (shown holding a shotgun to Myriam's head) and pulls out all the stops in order to get pregnant.
She's already 40.
It's a horrible, devastating, tragic journey and Steinberg really holds nothing back as she discusses miscarriage after miscarriage, and even an abortion. It's brutal.
Not to say it's without it's humorous moments! Here's a more lighthearted excerpt:
"Mommy, how are babies made?"
"Well...
There's these birds, you see, and these bees.... and...
When the penis enters the vagina
An egg goes from the ovary to the uterus...
When a man goes in one room and a woman goes in another room...
And poof! The magic of science! pg. 151
Myriam tries everything: friends donating sperm, anonymous sperm donors, IUI, IVF, etc. etc. It's very emotionally harsh and it offers a very clear and raw view of what a single woman's crusade to get herself pregnant entails.
I would highly, highly recommend this book. It's an amazing book. HOWEVER. If you do not feel like you are in the right emotional place to read this, if you think reading about these endless miscarriages and even an abortion will upset you too much due to your past or your present, skip it. It's not worth sinking into a depression over. Please tread cautiously.
For anyone interested in spoilers, MAJOR SPOILER MAJOR SPOILER
TL;DR - Just an amazing book. This topic is unexplored. Usually even fertility memoirs involve the woman having a partner (male or female), seeing a book about a single woman's dogged pursuit of pregnancy was a welcome insight. I also think it really illustrates the realities of abortion and miscarriage and explores what these do to someone's psyche. She's extremely honest. Whether you are pro-choice or anti-choice or pro-abortion or anti-abortion, I would still recommend this highly. I think her perspective is valuable and touching.
Be advised that it does feature graphic panels, obviously. Myriam is nude sometimes, she's often at the OB-GYN, she is shown in heart-rending panels to be going through miscarriages and her abortion. It's a brutal, brutal book and that includes some of the artwork. Vulvae are shown occasionally (not in a sexual manner) and birth is shown.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Miscarriage, abortion, despair.
I can't recommend it enough, but you know if you can handle this book or not. Make your own determination as it is highly sensitive material.
NAMES IN THIS BOOK
March 4, 2021
A graphic memoir about five grueling years of fertility treatment. Approaching burnout and age forty, Steinberg decided to pursue motherhood on her own. Between IUI, IVF, and a DIY at-home attempt, she had four failed pregnancies before the eventual birth of her twins. The illustration style ranges from anatomical realism in the fertility clinic to whimsical, as in vintage computer game scenarios and a word cloud that becomes a cyclone. Against a mostly gray and brown palette, flashes of brightness stand out. Pink captures the bodily reality of treatment, via organs, blood, and pain.
See my full review at Foreword. I also did a Q&A with Myriam for the newsletter.
See my full review at Foreword. I also did a Q&A with Myriam for the newsletter.
June 7, 2022
Myriam Steinberg shares the wonder and misery of her marathon journey to motherhood, from choosing to be a single mother in her forties through fertility issues, increasingly invasive conception techniques, and multiple lost pregnancies. She details her evolving spirituality and increasing appreciation of family and community.
The art is graphic at times and the story can be quite distressing.
The art is graphic at times and the story can be quite distressing.
August 24, 2021
I don't have--or want--kids, but watching someone care passionately about something so key to human existence is gripping on every page. A graphic novel and firsthand narrative of infertility and the struggle to conceive, this honest and courageous memoir is a beautiful book. The artwork is striking and gives an added perspective to the story, making the characters and their emotions live visually on the page. Catalogue Baby is hard to put down and impossible to forget.
January 8, 2022
Catalogue Baby is a graphic memoir about one woman’s efforts to conceive a baby, on her own, in her forties.
Myriam’s journey was far from straightforward. As a single woman, in order to conceive, she needed a sperm donor. She tried anonymous sperm donors, and sperm donors she knew. Myriam went through several rounds of IUI (intrauterine insemination) as well as several rounds of IVF (in vitro fertilization).
Myriam writes about her experience trying to conceive in such a raw and vulnerable way, but includes dark humor as a relief for the reader (it seems we have the same coping mechanism haha). As someone who has yet to try IUI or IVF, but has experienced pregnancy loss and recurrent miscarriages, this book was both relatable and filled with new knowledge for me.
I am someone who wants to read books about pregnancy loss to feel less alone, so this book was a good fit for me. It also has a “happy” ending which is helpful, as I’m in the thick of trying to determine some next steps in my own motherhood journey (that feel overwhelming to say the least). I also recommend this memoir for anyone who is currently supporting someone going through infertility in your life. Myriam does a great job breaking down the emotions surrounding IUI and IVF as well as the guttural emotions woman face following pregnancy loss and how to navigate those as a supportive friend or family member. However, if pregnancy loss or infertility are triggers for you, I recommend skipping this graphic memoir.
Myriam’s journey was far from straightforward. As a single woman, in order to conceive, she needed a sperm donor. She tried anonymous sperm donors, and sperm donors she knew. Myriam went through several rounds of IUI (intrauterine insemination) as well as several rounds of IVF (in vitro fertilization).
Myriam writes about her experience trying to conceive in such a raw and vulnerable way, but includes dark humor as a relief for the reader (it seems we have the same coping mechanism haha). As someone who has yet to try IUI or IVF, but has experienced pregnancy loss and recurrent miscarriages, this book was both relatable and filled with new knowledge for me.
I am someone who wants to read books about pregnancy loss to feel less alone, so this book was a good fit for me. It also has a “happy” ending which is helpful, as I’m in the thick of trying to determine some next steps in my own motherhood journey (that feel overwhelming to say the least). I also recommend this memoir for anyone who is currently supporting someone going through infertility in your life. Myriam does a great job breaking down the emotions surrounding IUI and IVF as well as the guttural emotions woman face following pregnancy loss and how to navigate those as a supportive friend or family member. However, if pregnancy loss or infertility are triggers for you, I recommend skipping this graphic memoir.
October 24, 2021
I was deeply moved by the courage of Myriam Steinberg as I read about her epic journey to become a parent, and I am inspired by her determination not to give up no matter what the obstacles were. Overcoming adversity is what makes a person resilient. Despite her rawness, courage, and strength, her story is powerful and moving. This memoir follows the real journey of infertility and motherhood through stories of honesty, beauty, and emotions. I think that Myriam is extremely brave for sharing such unvarnished details in her memoir about the experience of trying to conceive. The illustrations Christache creates bring her story to life in playful, imaginative and intimate details. Throughout, I was captivated by the book. Hearing Myriam's story has an inspirational value, as it sheds light on topics that are rarely discussed as well as themes that are rarely addressed. My knowledge of various topics was enhanced by reading the book. Throughout the memoir, I encountered not only the struggles faced by so many women to conceive, but also the incomparable strength of the human spirit and the storm's compassion and empathy. There are women and families dealing with a common, but rarely discussed, reality in this book. This is a must read for women and families.
September 7, 2021
An arresting story of desire with all its complications, told with utter honesty and a sense of humor. I found it touching, sensitive and strong. The illustrations are terrific.
October 3, 2022
Relatable thoughts and feelings, good pace of story (kept my attention), and made me cry. I am grateful this was written. It made me feel so seen and like part of a community.
June 14, 2024
[3.5 stars]
When I picked up this book I didn't know I needed to read it, I figured I'd get through it quickly and move on but I teared up several times and had to pause to reflect on my own life before I could continue on with it. I could relate to a lot of what the author shared and it gave me hope that maybe one day I may be in her position. Even if I'm not, it was healing to allow myself to read her story and acknowledge the ways in which I could relate to parts of it.
I'm a trans guy in my mid 20s who's in a long term relationship with a cis guy. Since I was a child I wanted to be a parent and I raised my little siblings as if they were my own. Since moving away from them, I found myself struggling with wanting a child with my partner and knowing it isn't in the cards for us during this lifetime due to lack of financial resources and my inability to imagine becoming pregnant. As my friends and other loved ones have begun starting their families I've felt this private sorrow over not being able to do so myself. Every month I worry I may be pregnant but there's also a quiet excitement that maybe I am which is quickly followed by the relief and sadness of being proven to not be. It's very confusing and emotional and I can only imagine the ways in which it would be amplified if I was actually trying for a child. I don't think I'll end up with a child of my own because parenting my siblings is more than enough for me but I can't help that there's a part of me that wishes things were different and I could carry a child of my own that my partner and I could love.
Reading this book allowed me the space to really dwell on my feelings on this topic and indulge in the emotions that came with that.
When I picked up this book I didn't know I needed to read it, I figured I'd get through it quickly and move on but I teared up several times and had to pause to reflect on my own life before I could continue on with it. I could relate to a lot of what the author shared and it gave me hope that maybe one day I may be in her position. Even if I'm not, it was healing to allow myself to read her story and acknowledge the ways in which I could relate to parts of it.
I'm a trans guy in my mid 20s who's in a long term relationship with a cis guy. Since I was a child I wanted to be a parent and I raised my little siblings as if they were my own. Since moving away from them, I found myself struggling with wanting a child with my partner and knowing it isn't in the cards for us during this lifetime due to lack of financial resources and my inability to imagine becoming pregnant. As my friends and other loved ones have begun starting their families I've felt this private sorrow over not being able to do so myself. Every month I worry I may be pregnant but there's also a quiet excitement that maybe I am which is quickly followed by the relief and sadness of being proven to not be. It's very confusing and emotional and I can only imagine the ways in which it would be amplified if I was actually trying for a child. I don't think I'll end up with a child of my own because parenting my siblings is more than enough for me but I can't help that there's a part of me that wishes things were different and I could carry a child of my own that my partner and I could love.
Reading this book allowed me the space to really dwell on my feelings on this topic and indulge in the emotions that came with that.
July 15, 2021
I LOVED this book. I have not struggled with infertility, but wanted to learn more about the experiences of my fellow mamas. After a long day with newborn twins, and an 18-month old, I sat down at the kitchen table to skim this book. I became transfixed, and then looked up to realize that time had passed and I read the book COVER to COVER. This was my first graphic novel, and I felt so connected to it, and to Myriam's story. This book is beautiful, intentionally designed, and incredibly vulnerable. I'm so glad I got it and will continue to gift it and recommend it in the future. Completely honest opinion - READ IT!
July 10, 2021
This is such a remarkable debut graphic novel!! The storytelling deftly unravels the complexities of infertility and pregnancy loss. It opens up readers to a world of grief that so many women suffer silently. It is an incredible roller-coaster ride of raw feelings, that will hopefully help so many people better understand what it means to try to conceive with the odds against you.
May 17, 2021
What a rollercoaster. Not to be read if you're feeling emotional or raw. The story is well organized and detailed, so much feelings, and the art fits perfectly. I couldnt stop once I started, although I had some moments of "should I really be reading this right now"
July 16, 2021
A gorgeous, moving memoir of infertility filled with striking, vivid images and powerful themes such as womanhood, community, spirituality, loss, and grief. This was a library find that I hope to add to my own collection and could even see myself assigning for class.
March 2, 2022
Not enough stars in the universe for this one. I sobbed uncontrollably from start to end. I cannot thank Myriam enough for writing down all her experiences, anxieties, hopes and dreams. This will forever be a book I cherish.
July 10, 2021
So honest and raw. This was my first time reading a graphic novel and I’m so glad I tried. It was an amazing medium for telling Myriam’s story.
July 10, 2022
Easily the best graphic novel I've ever read. Beautiful in every single way.
January 17, 2024
Important, validating and moving encapsulation of the struggles of conception (for many). As someone who has experienced miscarriage as well as necessary interventions for pregnancy, I deeply appreciated this memoir and will definitely recommend it to others.
August 6, 2021
On behalf of Birthing Magazine, which received a complimentary copy:
The back cover is short, simple and to the point. “This book is a true gift to anyone on a journey to parenthood through IVF/IUI,” and it certainly lives up to its promise.
Catalogue Baby is the story of the infertility of author Myriam Steinberg as she seeks to start a family of her own. A single mom by choice, with the support of her family and friends, she embarks on a relentless cycle of hope and loss as she works with her fertility clinic toward the opportunity to experience pregnancy, birth and parenthood. The graphic novel, with illustrations by Christache, brings a rawness to Steinberg’s journey in a unique style not often seen in literature about fertility, pregnancy and loss. The relatively short read is appreciated, and the illustrations are catching and easily draw the reader in for longer with their detail and emotion.
With infertility affecting one in six Canadians trying to have a baby, Steinberg’s journey is relatable to many families. Introduced on the first page of the story, a spicy and unimpressed-looking alarm clock character, aptly named Biological Clock, represents Steinberg’s inner dialogue and is a constant reminder of time ticking away. Fertility in many ways is a race against time and that theme is present throughout the story. “Time had always seemed a bottomless resource,” the author states, and it resonates in so many ways to those experiencing infertility. It can literally feel like time is standing still as you wait for the next treatment cycle, medication dose or test result. At the same time, the book thrusts you forward, year after year through Steinberg’s life, and the urgency is not lost on the reader. Will she get her wish of a baby before time runs out?
The use of technology in the images is accurate and gives a reader an overview of the intrauterine insemination and in-vitro fertilization processes while honouring the author’s array of emotions. Perhaps one of the most tear-jerking decisions comes when Steinberg must decide on the fate of her little Azariah, and her last chance of having a child biologically her own. Testing reveals the baby would be born with an extra chromosome––an indicator of Down’s Syndrome––and Steinberg must look deeply into balancing her own needs as a single parent and the hardships a child with potentially complex medical challenges might face.
Steinberg is not afraid to speak about the harsh realities of the fertility treatments or of the losses she experiences, and the content is honest in both its writing and its illustrations. It does not skip over the devastation one might realize when a tiny, miscarried embryo has unknowingly made its way down the drain or the vividness of various emotions as the many procedures unfold along Steinberg’s journey––seven IUIs, one DIY and three IVFs, to be exact! There are tears. There is excitement. There is heartbreak. There is joy. The author’s spirituality contrasts meaningfully with the emotions and technology in these punctuating moments and speaks to the need to balance the whole person. She contemplates questions like What is a soul? Where do they come from and where do they go? Can a soul really be picked from a catalogue of donors?
Infertility can be a lonely journey, aptly described as a rollercoaster, but Steinberg credits her friends and family for helping her through it all. The cast of supporting characters makes this book a great resource for those experiencing infertility on how to connect with support in their families and their communities. It is also a great reference for those looking to better understand the struggles that people living through infertility are navigating, or those just looking for someone from a non-traditional family to relate with. Finally, for anyone looking to better understand the stigmas and challenges of planned single parenting, don’t hesitate to grab yourself a copy of this book, and some tissues.
The back cover is short, simple and to the point. “This book is a true gift to anyone on a journey to parenthood through IVF/IUI,” and it certainly lives up to its promise.
Catalogue Baby is the story of the infertility of author Myriam Steinberg as she seeks to start a family of her own. A single mom by choice, with the support of her family and friends, she embarks on a relentless cycle of hope and loss as she works with her fertility clinic toward the opportunity to experience pregnancy, birth and parenthood. The graphic novel, with illustrations by Christache, brings a rawness to Steinberg’s journey in a unique style not often seen in literature about fertility, pregnancy and loss. The relatively short read is appreciated, and the illustrations are catching and easily draw the reader in for longer with their detail and emotion.
With infertility affecting one in six Canadians trying to have a baby, Steinberg’s journey is relatable to many families. Introduced on the first page of the story, a spicy and unimpressed-looking alarm clock character, aptly named Biological Clock, represents Steinberg’s inner dialogue and is a constant reminder of time ticking away. Fertility in many ways is a race against time and that theme is present throughout the story. “Time had always seemed a bottomless resource,” the author states, and it resonates in so many ways to those experiencing infertility. It can literally feel like time is standing still as you wait for the next treatment cycle, medication dose or test result. At the same time, the book thrusts you forward, year after year through Steinberg’s life, and the urgency is not lost on the reader. Will she get her wish of a baby before time runs out?
The use of technology in the images is accurate and gives a reader an overview of the intrauterine insemination and in-vitro fertilization processes while honouring the author’s array of emotions. Perhaps one of the most tear-jerking decisions comes when Steinberg must decide on the fate of her little Azariah, and her last chance of having a child biologically her own. Testing reveals the baby would be born with an extra chromosome––an indicator of Down’s Syndrome––and Steinberg must look deeply into balancing her own needs as a single parent and the hardships a child with potentially complex medical challenges might face.
Steinberg is not afraid to speak about the harsh realities of the fertility treatments or of the losses she experiences, and the content is honest in both its writing and its illustrations. It does not skip over the devastation one might realize when a tiny, miscarried embryo has unknowingly made its way down the drain or the vividness of various emotions as the many procedures unfold along Steinberg’s journey––seven IUIs, one DIY and three IVFs, to be exact! There are tears. There is excitement. There is heartbreak. There is joy. The author’s spirituality contrasts meaningfully with the emotions and technology in these punctuating moments and speaks to the need to balance the whole person. She contemplates questions like What is a soul? Where do they come from and where do they go? Can a soul really be picked from a catalogue of donors?
Infertility can be a lonely journey, aptly described as a rollercoaster, but Steinberg credits her friends and family for helping her through it all. The cast of supporting characters makes this book a great resource for those experiencing infertility on how to connect with support in their families and their communities. It is also a great reference for those looking to better understand the struggles that people living through infertility are navigating, or those just looking for someone from a non-traditional family to relate with. Finally, for anyone looking to better understand the stigmas and challenges of planned single parenting, don’t hesitate to grab yourself a copy of this book, and some tissues.
Read
August 1, 2025Looking for ticking biological clocks, a self-described tragicomic, single parents by choice, and memoirs? This week's pick is Catalogue Baby: A Memoir of Infertility by Myriam Steinberg and illustrated by Christache. Apparently she's currently working on a sequel entitled Stick, Stay, Grow but Catalogue Baby was originally published in 2021 by Page Two Books.
I picked this book up for an online book club that only lasted one month. I've also read and reviewed almost every graphic novel about abortion I've ever heard of and so I guess I need to branch out a bit further.
Content notes for: abortion in the face of down syndrome, a lot of miscarriages, nudity, frank depiction of medical treatments and needles.
The publishers summary is "A deeply moving tragicomic graphic memoir about a single woman’s efforts to conceive in her forties.
A few months after Myriam Steinberg turned forty, she decided she couldn’t wait any longer to become a mother. She made the difficult decision to begin the process of conceiving a child without a partner. With her family and friends to support her, she picked a sperm donor and was on her way.
But Myriam’s journey was far from straightforward. She experienced the soaring highs and devastating lows of becoming pregnant and then losing her babies. She grappled with the best decision to make when choosing donors or opting for a medical procedure. She experienced first-hand the silences, loneliness, and taboos that come with experiences of fetal loss. Unafraid to publicize her experiences, though, she found that, in return, friends and strangers alike started sharing their own fertility stories with her. Although the lack of understanding and language around fetal loss and grief often made it very hard to navigate everyday life, she nonetheless found solace in the community around her who rallied to support her through her journey.
Through it all, Myriam remained hopeful and here she unflinchingly shares her story with wry humour, honesty, and courage. Beautifully illustrated by Christache, Catalogue Baby is one woman’s story of tragedy and beating the odds, and is a resource for all women and couples who are trying to conceive. Catalogue Baby is a compassionate portrait of fertility and infertility that hasn’t been seen before."
Copying that over into my script I'm a bit surprised that the summary jumps straight over the relationship that Steinberg starts the memoir in, and that she tries to make work before moving on to start down the single parent by choice journey. But that's not a huge deal I guess.
Starting off on the writing side of things, Catalogue Baby is a highly personal and vulnerable memoir. A space where there's a lot of diverse judgement from every different kind of person, it's also a very isolating and silencing space. So while I don't think I enjoyed this read (although some reviewers certainly have) I did find it pretty interesting.
A very tightly focused memoir, Steinberg does give credit to the wider community that supported her through this journey to become a single mother by choice.
Other notes to bridge the gap between reviewing a memoir and giving a creator biography. Steinberg lives in vancouver (so this is can-con) and she is Jewish. As a different kind of religious person (namely christian) I really appreciate seeing how religion and religious traditions are woven into people's lives.
Moving along to the artistic side of thing. Christache's cartooning is fairly distinctive and his use of a limited greyscale and pink colour scheme was effective. Working together Steinberg and Christache weave together a hard part of life with blunt matter of fact medical nudity, and fantastical whimsy that personifies biological functions in a way that balances out the grim with the humerious.
Probably not up to either of them, I was a bit surprise that libby forced me to read this ebook in landscape mode. Not the end of the world but not my favourite either.
Christache is another Vancouverite who has done everything from kidergarten art class to teen improv teacher… he's now mostly a freelance illustrator whose goal is "to thrill my clients with playful, beautiful illustrations that capture the mood and narrative of each individual project."
Moving on to the different identities and themes, as I am want to do… As I already mentioned this is a fairly tightly focused memoir so there isn't too much diversity of representation because we are mostly focused on Steinberg.
Bodies and function and failure to function is fairly central to Catalogue Baby and disability does complicate my feelings about this book. Because as I noted in the content notes Steinberg does make the choice part way through her journey to seek an abortion because, after several rounds of genetic testing, the chance of her child not being born with down syndrome is like 1%. I made it a content note because if that's going to be upsetting to anyone they really should not read this memoir. It's not worth it.
On a similar note I don't think it's terribly useful for me to point my critique at cogs in this ableist and capitalist machine that Steinberg and I live in. Please feel free to stop here if you think you might find what I am about to say upsetting. I'm going on a bit of a tangent.
While I was very much raised to be pro-life I am now 1000 and 10 percent pro choice. Doesn't matter if it's a hard choice or an easy choice I do ultimately think it's up to the pregnant person what they are going to do with their body throughout their entire pregnancy.
That said, zooming out, I want to live in a society where it doesn't matter to anyone if they find out their fetus will likely have a not terminal disability such as down syndrome because the stigma and fear are gone and people have everything they need to raise children with a diversity of needs. Not to mention a world in which disabled people are able to get married and not lose their supports and don't face societal barriers to having and raising their own children. Assuming marriage continues to be the thing.
But of course circling back to the grim world I am currently living in. A place of ever increasing eugenics and fascism… I would also encourage people who may sometime in the future be faced with a choice like this is that there is actually no way to guarantee that your child will not be disabled. Screening tests don't catch anything close to everything genetically speaking, births can become complicated, and after that there are even more ways for them to hurt themselves, cancers, viruses and accidents. Eventually we are all either less then fully able bodied or dead.
Even in Catalogue Baby Steinberg's rabbit becomes unexpectedly disabled and we do briefly follow Steinberg's relationship with her rabbit and the long road of recovery they faced around that time.
Class is touched on a bit more then usual. Not like in a proper class analysis sort of way but Steinberg is fairly up front about how financially supportive her parents were of this journey.
Gender felt perhaps somewhat surprisingly low key considering how gendered pregnancy spaces often are or maybe I'm just conveniently forgetting parts? Your milage will certainly vary if you highly gender certain kinds of reproductive organs. I forget if there was any overt mention of non women getting pregnant though.
And while being a single parent by choice is a bit off target for heterosexual reproduction ideals. I did keep having the slightly disappointing realization that Steinberg is actually not queer? Ok, before you rage comment (although honestly, that does feed the algorithm) disappointed is way too strong a word. I was just slightly surprised every time I remembered that. It was also because the style of the comic art also just reminded me of a few queer comics I've read over the years.
Place didn't feel super explored. Like I knew she lived in Vancouver and I think that part of her fertility treatment might have been covered by the provincial healthcare but certainly not a chunk of it. Which is sadly not unusual up here.
Looking at our social construct of race, as I already mentioned Stenberg is Jewish and that does play a part in some spiritual stuff that was woven into the memoir. But I think that's about it as far as I remember.
Wrapping things up… As I already said I wouldn't say this was an enjoyable read. Some people certainly felt a much deeper connection with the material, I just got a lot of second hand stress from all the hard choices and disappointing results throughout.
I picked this book up for an online book club that only lasted one month. I've also read and reviewed almost every graphic novel about abortion I've ever heard of and so I guess I need to branch out a bit further.
Content notes for: abortion in the face of down syndrome, a lot of miscarriages, nudity, frank depiction of medical treatments and needles.
The publishers summary is "A deeply moving tragicomic graphic memoir about a single woman’s efforts to conceive in her forties.
A few months after Myriam Steinberg turned forty, she decided she couldn’t wait any longer to become a mother. She made the difficult decision to begin the process of conceiving a child without a partner. With her family and friends to support her, she picked a sperm donor and was on her way.
But Myriam’s journey was far from straightforward. She experienced the soaring highs and devastating lows of becoming pregnant and then losing her babies. She grappled with the best decision to make when choosing donors or opting for a medical procedure. She experienced first-hand the silences, loneliness, and taboos that come with experiences of fetal loss. Unafraid to publicize her experiences, though, she found that, in return, friends and strangers alike started sharing their own fertility stories with her. Although the lack of understanding and language around fetal loss and grief often made it very hard to navigate everyday life, she nonetheless found solace in the community around her who rallied to support her through her journey.
Through it all, Myriam remained hopeful and here she unflinchingly shares her story with wry humour, honesty, and courage. Beautifully illustrated by Christache, Catalogue Baby is one woman’s story of tragedy and beating the odds, and is a resource for all women and couples who are trying to conceive. Catalogue Baby is a compassionate portrait of fertility and infertility that hasn’t been seen before."
Copying that over into my script I'm a bit surprised that the summary jumps straight over the relationship that Steinberg starts the memoir in, and that she tries to make work before moving on to start down the single parent by choice journey. But that's not a huge deal I guess.
Starting off on the writing side of things, Catalogue Baby is a highly personal and vulnerable memoir. A space where there's a lot of diverse judgement from every different kind of person, it's also a very isolating and silencing space. So while I don't think I enjoyed this read (although some reviewers certainly have) I did find it pretty interesting.
A very tightly focused memoir, Steinberg does give credit to the wider community that supported her through this journey to become a single mother by choice.
Other notes to bridge the gap between reviewing a memoir and giving a creator biography. Steinberg lives in vancouver (so this is can-con) and she is Jewish. As a different kind of religious person (namely christian) I really appreciate seeing how religion and religious traditions are woven into people's lives.
Moving along to the artistic side of thing. Christache's cartooning is fairly distinctive and his use of a limited greyscale and pink colour scheme was effective. Working together Steinberg and Christache weave together a hard part of life with blunt matter of fact medical nudity, and fantastical whimsy that personifies biological functions in a way that balances out the grim with the humerious.
Probably not up to either of them, I was a bit surprise that libby forced me to read this ebook in landscape mode. Not the end of the world but not my favourite either.
Christache is another Vancouverite who has done everything from kidergarten art class to teen improv teacher… he's now mostly a freelance illustrator whose goal is "to thrill my clients with playful, beautiful illustrations that capture the mood and narrative of each individual project."
Moving on to the different identities and themes, as I am want to do… As I already mentioned this is a fairly tightly focused memoir so there isn't too much diversity of representation because we are mostly focused on Steinberg.
Bodies and function and failure to function is fairly central to Catalogue Baby and disability does complicate my feelings about this book. Because as I noted in the content notes Steinberg does make the choice part way through her journey to seek an abortion because, after several rounds of genetic testing, the chance of her child not being born with down syndrome is like 1%. I made it a content note because if that's going to be upsetting to anyone they really should not read this memoir. It's not worth it.
On a similar note I don't think it's terribly useful for me to point my critique at cogs in this ableist and capitalist machine that Steinberg and I live in. Please feel free to stop here if you think you might find what I am about to say upsetting. I'm going on a bit of a tangent.
While I was very much raised to be pro-life I am now 1000 and 10 percent pro choice. Doesn't matter if it's a hard choice or an easy choice I do ultimately think it's up to the pregnant person what they are going to do with their body throughout their entire pregnancy.
That said, zooming out, I want to live in a society where it doesn't matter to anyone if they find out their fetus will likely have a not terminal disability such as down syndrome because the stigma and fear are gone and people have everything they need to raise children with a diversity of needs. Not to mention a world in which disabled people are able to get married and not lose their supports and don't face societal barriers to having and raising their own children. Assuming marriage continues to be the thing.
But of course circling back to the grim world I am currently living in. A place of ever increasing eugenics and fascism… I would also encourage people who may sometime in the future be faced with a choice like this is that there is actually no way to guarantee that your child will not be disabled. Screening tests don't catch anything close to everything genetically speaking, births can become complicated, and after that there are even more ways for them to hurt themselves, cancers, viruses and accidents. Eventually we are all either less then fully able bodied or dead.
Even in Catalogue Baby Steinberg's rabbit becomes unexpectedly disabled and we do briefly follow Steinberg's relationship with her rabbit and the long road of recovery they faced around that time.
Class is touched on a bit more then usual. Not like in a proper class analysis sort of way but Steinberg is fairly up front about how financially supportive her parents were of this journey.
Gender felt perhaps somewhat surprisingly low key considering how gendered pregnancy spaces often are or maybe I'm just conveniently forgetting parts? Your milage will certainly vary if you highly gender certain kinds of reproductive organs. I forget if there was any overt mention of non women getting pregnant though.
And while being a single parent by choice is a bit off target for heterosexual reproduction ideals. I did keep having the slightly disappointing realization that Steinberg is actually not queer? Ok, before you rage comment (although honestly, that does feed the algorithm) disappointed is way too strong a word. I was just slightly surprised every time I remembered that. It was also because the style of the comic art also just reminded me of a few queer comics I've read over the years.
Place didn't feel super explored. Like I knew she lived in Vancouver and I think that part of her fertility treatment might have been covered by the provincial healthcare but certainly not a chunk of it. Which is sadly not unusual up here.
Looking at our social construct of race, as I already mentioned Stenberg is Jewish and that does play a part in some spiritual stuff that was woven into the memoir. But I think that's about it as far as I remember.
Wrapping things up… As I already said I wouldn't say this was an enjoyable read. Some people certainly felt a much deeper connection with the material, I just got a lot of second hand stress from all the hard choices and disappointing results throughout.
August 25, 2021
Catalogue Baby, by Myriam Steinberg
I was in a writing class when another author mentioned Catalogue Baby to me. She described it as a memoir of the author’s inability to conceive and to bring a child to term. My empathy kicked into high gear. What a challenging topic to write about. I can only imagine the pain and struggle that were the impetus for such a memoir.
When I then learned that the memoir was in a graphic novel format, I was more than intrigued. I had to purchase this. If nothing else, I needed to see how such an emotional topic would work as a graphic novel.
Spoiler alert: this book is stunning. As I expected, the subject matter is emotionally challenging. There were several times when I needed to pause, my eyes wet with tears at the protagonist’s challenges. But it is beautifully written. Several moments stand out with poignant excellence.
The protagonist’s DIY attempt with a sperm donor was cleverly captured. Having her friend there to photograph every moment, even down to the sterilization of the sperm receptacle (a mug with thank you inscribed on it—how perfect!) and the syringe made a process that can seem cold and sterile (from reading about it elsewhere) fun and joyful, despite learning on the next pages that the attempt did not take.
When the protagonist meets with her grandmother after one attempt at conception, the conversation captures beautifully the random ramblings that I remember from my own grandparents. Combined with the deep love we witness in the grandmother, it was a brief moment of joy, made even brighter when a name for her baby comes to the protagonist out of the blue: Azariah. Hebrew for helped by God.
There is another beautiful moment during another attempt to conceive where a baby name comes to the protagonist: Leila. We learn that Leila is an angel of conception in the Jewish faith, and the images of an angel teaching the fetus about Jewish law and tradition within the womb was so artfully done that it remains within my imagination even now.
I can hear people object: the story within Catalogue Baby has nothing to do with my life. But that response is wrong for so many reasons. Memoir is a unique gift. It allows us to broaden our understanding of our shared humanity. Through memoir we not only better understand the lives of other people, we better understand our own lives. Each of us, as humans, experience the unexpected twists and turns of life’s joys and disappointments, and knowing how a fellow human navigates those blind corners of change makes our own lives richer.
An added benefit for a writer like me is seeing how memoir works, and in this case, works perfectly, in the graphic novel format. This memoir opens a world to us in ways that go beyond the excellent writing. The illustrations by Cristache give vivid glimpses into the protagonist’s community, sharing details that might otherwise require some bloat within Steinberg’s lean, evocative prose.
I am so lucky to have read this. Catalogue Baby is a true gift.
I was in a writing class when another author mentioned Catalogue Baby to me. She described it as a memoir of the author’s inability to conceive and to bring a child to term. My empathy kicked into high gear. What a challenging topic to write about. I can only imagine the pain and struggle that were the impetus for such a memoir.
When I then learned that the memoir was in a graphic novel format, I was more than intrigued. I had to purchase this. If nothing else, I needed to see how such an emotional topic would work as a graphic novel.
Spoiler alert: this book is stunning. As I expected, the subject matter is emotionally challenging. There were several times when I needed to pause, my eyes wet with tears at the protagonist’s challenges. But it is beautifully written. Several moments stand out with poignant excellence.
The protagonist’s DIY attempt with a sperm donor was cleverly captured. Having her friend there to photograph every moment, even down to the sterilization of the sperm receptacle (a mug with thank you inscribed on it—how perfect!) and the syringe made a process that can seem cold and sterile (from reading about it elsewhere) fun and joyful, despite learning on the next pages that the attempt did not take.
When the protagonist meets with her grandmother after one attempt at conception, the conversation captures beautifully the random ramblings that I remember from my own grandparents. Combined with the deep love we witness in the grandmother, it was a brief moment of joy, made even brighter when a name for her baby comes to the protagonist out of the blue: Azariah. Hebrew for helped by God.
There is another beautiful moment during another attempt to conceive where a baby name comes to the protagonist: Leila. We learn that Leila is an angel of conception in the Jewish faith, and the images of an angel teaching the fetus about Jewish law and tradition within the womb was so artfully done that it remains within my imagination even now.
I can hear people object: the story within Catalogue Baby has nothing to do with my life. But that response is wrong for so many reasons. Memoir is a unique gift. It allows us to broaden our understanding of our shared humanity. Through memoir we not only better understand the lives of other people, we better understand our own lives. Each of us, as humans, experience the unexpected twists and turns of life’s joys and disappointments, and knowing how a fellow human navigates those blind corners of change makes our own lives richer.
An added benefit for a writer like me is seeing how memoir works, and in this case, works perfectly, in the graphic novel format. This memoir opens a world to us in ways that go beyond the excellent writing. The illustrations by Cristache give vivid glimpses into the protagonist’s community, sharing details that might otherwise require some bloat within Steinberg’s lean, evocative prose.
I am so lucky to have read this. Catalogue Baby is a true gift.
August 25, 2021
Very compelling, although I do have some questions / issues. It's a memoir, and I do believe the author is writing as honestly as she can, which does feel like it invalidates any opinions I may have.
November 2, 2021
Do you read graphic novels?
Catalogue Baby by Myriam Steinberg is only my second graphic novel and it was so touching, I might not be able to read any other ones.
Myriam is in her early 40s when she decides she is ready to become a mother. This decision leads to a long road ahead, which she tells beautifully.
I am thankful she decided to write her story, but especially that she made it into a graphic novel.
I couldn’t put this book down once I picked it up. The story is gripping, it has some humor but then some very painful heartbreak.
The illustrations by Christache, genuinely made me feel what Myriam was going through.
I highly recommend Catalogue Baby, I think most women can empathize with Myriam no matter where they are in life.
You can find this book on our Amazon Storefront, thank you to @katerockbooktours for gifting us this copy.🧜🏼♀️🌺
Catalogue Baby by Myriam Steinberg is only my second graphic novel and it was so touching, I might not be able to read any other ones.
Myriam is in her early 40s when she decides she is ready to become a mother. This decision leads to a long road ahead, which she tells beautifully.
I am thankful she decided to write her story, but especially that she made it into a graphic novel.
I couldn’t put this book down once I picked it up. The story is gripping, it has some humor but then some very painful heartbreak.
The illustrations by Christache, genuinely made me feel what Myriam was going through.
I highly recommend Catalogue Baby, I think most women can empathize with Myriam no matter where they are in life.
You can find this book on our Amazon Storefront, thank you to @katerockbooktours for gifting us this copy.🧜🏼♀️🌺
December 8, 2021
Myriam Steinberg made one simple but massive choice. She was going to be a mom even if she had to do it herself. That journey is depicted in her graphic memoir Catalogue Baby: A Memoir of Infertility. As the title would suggest this was not a one-step simple process. Beyond just the material cost Myriam struggle emotionally and physically as her desire to become a mother hit wall after wall. Even with the advancements in technology, nothing is guaranteed when it comes to the human body and Steinberg made the choice to catalog her massive ups and downs. In the novel, she asks the question of why knowing someone else suffered similarly to you would make you feel better. I do not think there is any single answer to that question. As a male reading this my eyes were opened to a connection I could never fully understand and also what it would feel like to then lose that connection. Sometimes knowing someone made it through is empowering, and sometimes it can be deflating when you feel your struggle is only your own.
April 27, 2021
I picked up Catalogue Baby one day and couldn't put it down. I was quickly transported into Myriam's roller coaster of experiences with infertility. As an artist, I know deeply that sometimes words can be limited when articulating the depth of our stories. SEEING Myriam's story through both words and pictures gave a deeply moving perspective to infertility. Countless images and reflections resonated with me and my own personal journey with infertility. Fertility procedures and loss can be very clinical- this graphic novel reveals the heart and soul of the experience. Catalogue Baby a gift to those going through family-building struggles and to anyone who wants to understand the reality of infertility.
February 15, 2023
I finished this book within a single 24-hour period, that's how hard it was to put down! From the very first page I was hooked, I needed to know how it would end. Miriam has done an amazing job of chronicling her harrowing journey to motherhood in gripping, sensitive, and often hilarious detail. More than once. I wondered how it was possible for her to endure as many obstacles as she did. Her strength and determination shine throughout, and as a reader, I had no intention of abandoning her. I was glad to accompany this extraordinary woman on her path to motherhood and learned so much along the way. The illustrations by Christache are absolutely amazing and stunning. I can't wait to read the sequel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2021
Powerful, raw and courageous! I was deeply moved by Myriam Steinberg’s epic journey to become a parent and her determination to stay on her path and not give up in the face of adversity. Myriam is incredibly brave in sharing unvarnished details about the intense physical and emotional experience of trying to conceive. Christache’s illustrations bring her story to life in playful, imaginative and intimate detail. I couldn’t put it down. I am so glad that Myriam has shared her story, as it sheds light on topics that are rarely discussed and is an inspiration on so many levels. I learned so much from reading this book.
April 9, 2021
Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Must read! It’s hard to concisely say how much this book moved me: it was so heartfelt and vulnerable. It was an honour to accompany the author on her journey and meet all her babies. The imagery was amazing, between the words and the pictures, the emotion jumped off the page. I cried twice, laughed too. The author covered every part of the journey towards parenthood including ending some relationships, the time crunch, mysticism/spirituality, the endless invasive medical procedures, the emotional toll, the financial cost, as well as the beautiful power of community, family, and friendship.
June 3, 2021
Catalogue baby is a poignant, humorous, and deeply honest retelling of Steinberg's journey through (in)fertility and quest for children. She recounts scenarios with a level of detail that resonates deeply with anyone who has gone through a similar journey, and educates those who have not about a surprisingly common experience that is usually steeped in shame and swept under the rug. Told through Christache’s gorgeous illustrations, and Steinberg’s witty dialogue, thoughtful internal reflections, and clever story structure, Catalogue Baby is rife with humanity. It will have you laughing and crying along with its heroine, rooting with all your heart for her to become a mother, and yet seeing her deep value as a human being even if she doesn’t succeed.
February 6, 2022
I found it very insightful reading this. It let me experience some of what my mum must have gone through. Mum had me when she was 30, I'm 19 now and she's 49.
I'm a test tube baby my mum did ICSI because she couldn't conceive naturally.
I was part of a twin that died early on.
I was born premature at 25 weeks.
This book was interesting to read because it's one thing to be told the story in a factual way by my mum but it's another thing to sort of experience what it must have been like to go through it. This graphic novel does that, it puts you there with Myriam. This book is full of raw emotion.
Thank you Myriam for sharing your story with the world.
I'm a test tube baby my mum did ICSI because she couldn't conceive naturally.
I was part of a twin that died early on.
I was born premature at 25 weeks.
This book was interesting to read because it's one thing to be told the story in a factual way by my mum but it's another thing to sort of experience what it must have been like to go through it. This graphic novel does that, it puts you there with Myriam. This book is full of raw emotion.
Thank you Myriam for sharing your story with the world.
December 30, 2022
A memoir full of life, human depth, and that powerful feeling we call motherhood.
I have found a recent love of memoirs, particularly graphic novel memoirs. I find there is such depth added with illustrations. I am a children's librarian though, so I think there should be illustrations with everything.
I've read some graphic novels about pregnancy and new motherhood but this one was really interesting. I am in my early thirties now and sometimes that I too hear that clock a ticking. Mostly, I loved how honest she was about everything. From the worst to the best, it was honest and gripping. The glossary in the back also helped out a whole bunch.
I have found a recent love of memoirs, particularly graphic novel memoirs. I find there is such depth added with illustrations. I am a children's librarian though, so I think there should be illustrations with everything.
I've read some graphic novels about pregnancy and new motherhood but this one was really interesting. I am in my early thirties now and sometimes that I too hear that clock a ticking. Mostly, I loved how honest she was about everything. From the worst to the best, it was honest and gripping. The glossary in the back also helped out a whole bunch.
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