What do you think?
Rate this book
One Life
Rose and Johnny are a modern couple, a career couple. But suddenly - unexpectedly - Johnny's desire for commitment and a child brings them to an abrupt and painful crossroads. To save their relationship Rose, an ambitious photographer still struggling for recognition, reluctantly concedes - only to discover that achieving parenthood is far harder than either of them had bargained on.
Unflinchingly honest, ONE LIFE is a heart-stoppingly poignant and compelling exploration of womanhood and its most basic compulsion; the desire for children.
Unflinchingly honest, ONE LIFE is a heart-stoppingly poignant and compelling exploration of womanhood and its most basic compulsion; the desire for children.
- GenresFiction
Paperback
First published January 24, 2006
4 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 14, 2009
This book was interesting if only for the insight into how infertility and the resulting quest to have one's own child can become a dangerous obsession. The main drawback was that the characters became unlikable and unsympathetic at some point, and the reader ultimately ends up a bit disgusted at how things turn out.
January 29, 2019
The subject matter's in my territory - infertility. Johnny is subfertile, Rose goes for ICSI, she's unable to hold on to the embryos. The emotions are authentic, the detail convincing, the twist plausible.
August 2, 2021
I actually thought this was a sensitive story on the harsh topic of what infertility does to a couple. I had a lot of sympathy for both of the protagonists. I'm going to rate this 79 percent. Which for me is very very high,
January 31, 2011
I was looking forward to reading this book, which was bought for me as a present, because I was drawn to the picture on the front. It tackles the highly emotive subject of infertility and the longing to have a baby.
Rose and Johnny are in their 30's. Rose, a photographer, is happy with the way things are but Johnny feels it is time they had a child together. Rose stalls at first, but they start trying, to no success. They eventually go to the doctor and IVF treatment is suggested because Johnny's sperm count is low. Three lots of IVF treatments later and Rose and Johnny are coming apart at the seams, the stress, the dashed hopes and the strain of the treatment is taking its toll. Rose is now considering desperate options to make their wishes come true.
Rebecca Frayn is a film maker who has worked on Cutting Edge and The South Bank Show on TV (among others). She has also undergone IVF treatment herself, so knows first hand the rollercoaster that must accompany these experiences, and she explores every facet and possibility that arises with such a situation, the emotional ups and downs, the obsessional longing, and the strain it places on a relationship. It is sensitively and thoroughly written. However, there are times, especially during the first half, that the book feels journalistic, like a documentary that I've seen before, and sadly that is where I found it disappointing.
Rose's character does develop with the responsibility of the treatments and keeping her husband happy, especially during the second half where there are some well crafted paragraphs. In contrast, Johnny seems to behave like a petulant child, largely unsupportive while she undergoes various tiresome, sometimes undignified and uncomfortable procedures to fulfill his wish for a child. She was the one reluctant at first, but gave in because she loves him. He spends much of the story being moody, and barely civil towards her, absorbed in his own grievances, unless he is getting what he wants. The story is told from her point of view but she remains forgiving and understanding as her own need for a baby grows. The other characters are representations to furnish the different sides to their predicament - the highly fertile friends, the gay friend and potential sperm donor... The ending was not a complete surprise either.
The book is certainly representative of our modern times, IVF becoming a more common option for desperate couples. There is also the angle that, while genuine people have been saved by this treatment, how much does it serve our growing psychologies of acquirement, the consumer within us that demands the right to have what we want. There is lots to consider in discussion.
I was trying to think who would enjoy this novel. People who have gone through IVF have probably had enough of it to want to read about it. Possibly those involved in councelling or the medical industry may gain some insights, or relatives of a loved one undergoing such trauma's to their lives. From a literary point of view I found it one dimensional. Yes, I did want the blue line to show on each pregnancy test, for all of her efforts to pay off, so her husband will start to speak to her again and they could get on with their lives. Generally though, I found it dull, and as a novel and not a biography, it could have been deeper, more imaginative and therefore wring every emotion out of the reader in a very profound way. It remains that the thing I liked the most was the picture on the cover.
Rose and Johnny are in their 30's. Rose, a photographer, is happy with the way things are but Johnny feels it is time they had a child together. Rose stalls at first, but they start trying, to no success. They eventually go to the doctor and IVF treatment is suggested because Johnny's sperm count is low. Three lots of IVF treatments later and Rose and Johnny are coming apart at the seams, the stress, the dashed hopes and the strain of the treatment is taking its toll. Rose is now considering desperate options to make their wishes come true.
Rebecca Frayn is a film maker who has worked on Cutting Edge and The South Bank Show on TV (among others). She has also undergone IVF treatment herself, so knows first hand the rollercoaster that must accompany these experiences, and she explores every facet and possibility that arises with such a situation, the emotional ups and downs, the obsessional longing, and the strain it places on a relationship. It is sensitively and thoroughly written. However, there are times, especially during the first half, that the book feels journalistic, like a documentary that I've seen before, and sadly that is where I found it disappointing.
Rose's character does develop with the responsibility of the treatments and keeping her husband happy, especially during the second half where there are some well crafted paragraphs. In contrast, Johnny seems to behave like a petulant child, largely unsupportive while she undergoes various tiresome, sometimes undignified and uncomfortable procedures to fulfill his wish for a child. She was the one reluctant at first, but gave in because she loves him. He spends much of the story being moody, and barely civil towards her, absorbed in his own grievances, unless he is getting what he wants. The story is told from her point of view but she remains forgiving and understanding as her own need for a baby grows. The other characters are representations to furnish the different sides to their predicament - the highly fertile friends, the gay friend and potential sperm donor... The ending was not a complete surprise either.
The book is certainly representative of our modern times, IVF becoming a more common option for desperate couples. There is also the angle that, while genuine people have been saved by this treatment, how much does it serve our growing psychologies of acquirement, the consumer within us that demands the right to have what we want. There is lots to consider in discussion.
I was trying to think who would enjoy this novel. People who have gone through IVF have probably had enough of it to want to read about it. Possibly those involved in councelling or the medical industry may gain some insights, or relatives of a loved one undergoing such trauma's to their lives. From a literary point of view I found it one dimensional. Yes, I did want the blue line to show on each pregnancy test, for all of her efforts to pay off, so her husband will start to speak to her again and they could get on with their lives. Generally though, I found it dull, and as a novel and not a biography, it could have been deeper, more imaginative and therefore wring every emotion out of the reader in a very profound way. It remains that the thing I liked the most was the picture on the cover.
March 27, 2007
This book was good for a long overnight coach journey, mainly because it was stupidly easy and completely mindless. The characters made me feel a bit sick, as did the story by the end. Very frustrating yet very easy to read. Just read somewhere that its the Daily Mail book club's Spring read - oh dear!
October 21, 2014
Didn't like the writing style and the use of heavy, lengthy descriptions about things that did not contribute to the development of the story. The plotline I would give 5 stars but the style I give 3. This story could have ended on page 50 if all the unnecessary bits were removed.... lots of unnecessary lines, short story.
January 28, 2010
was fairly intresting emotional journey through IVF and how it can become an obsession and and wreck your marrige and possibly other relationships. Only problem was the end was a bit stupid and unrealistic but apart from that fairly enjoybal book.
October 16, 2010
Slightly interesting read. Couldn't put the book down (i give it that), mostly because i just wanted to find out what happend to the characters in the end. But to my dissapointment i didn't really enjoy the ending, and i didn't get it much really either.
October 14, 2014
What a funny story, its about something that is very serious and emotional for any couple going though it and yet it barely touches on the emotions and the ending was just plain odd as if making fun of the situation.
August 15, 2015
Great insight into the process of IVF bit other than that it was very disappointing. The ending was a let down too as it felt rushed with no proper outcome.
Read
August 2, 2011Sad subject matter but good read. Outcome was a bit predictable though.
Read
August 24, 2018a friend of mine had asked me to read this sorry didn't really liked this story
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews