Down Came The Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression (2006) - Plot & Excerpts
I appreciated Brooke's honesty in how she described her experiences. Some of her points felt a little over-stated and went on but the writing was interesting. Several key components of her experiences really resonated with me. The experiences were bang on with what I was feeling before and during my diagnosis and it was almost a relief to hear that I wasn't an abnormality. First, when she had a hard time defining herself after her daugher was born because "up until now, I realized, I had equated my worth eith my successes in my career and at school. ...I had little opportunity to cultivate a sense of self separate from the one I held through my profession. ...Without my work to rely on, I felt unmoored" (page 100).Second, while on a trip Brooke met a woman who had a terrible time after her daughter was born. Her point that the woman was articulate and talented yet still experienced terrible anxiety, alarming mood swings, and no appetite. The woman generally "felt as if she wasn't herself" (page 116). Third, without her work, Brooke feels as though she no longer matters. In her colleagues eyes she was "no longer an actress; I was now just a mom. ...Needless to say, my senses of identity and self had been markedly unsettled" (page 130-131). In a recent discussion I realised I still referred to who I used to be (a consultant who worked on prestigious capital campaigns). I felt that the response I got when mentioning my former life versus being a mom and care-giver was much more respect than my current choice. Truth be told, this is the hardest and yet most rewarding job I've ever done. So why am I feeling the tugs of society disproving or disrespecting my choice to stay home and raise our family with our morals and values.Fourth, I was relieved to read when Brooke's doctor explained "just because pospartum depression has happened with one child, it wouldn't necessarily occur after subsequent births" (page 137). I don't know if we are done having children but this was something that has been definately weighing on my mind.Finally, Brooke and myself were both comforted "to know that those people who had experienced postpartum depression but who had reached out for help not only came through it, they did so with healthy bonded relationships with their children" (page 146). Another stress that manifests itself through the depression is hyper-sensitivity and self-doubt. I generally am a confident woman but with the panic and anxiety I had experienced before taking "the orange pill" or what I refer to as "my happy pill" I was unsure about even simple decisions such as what to feed my 2-year-old daughter for lunch! Things are much better now and I am enjoying my children and husband as I should.
When I first heard that Brooke Shields had suffered from postpartum depression, my heart went out to her. Just the hormones, alone, from having a baby can leave you on an emotional rollercoaster. That being said, I went into this book with a lot of sympathy. My attitude quickly changed. *Down Came the Rain* reads like a manual for how to have a baby. Aside from the fertility issues (if my own husband sneezes in the same room as me I get pregnant), I might have been reading excerpts from my OWN child birth experiences. Or my neighbor's. Or my friend's. In my opinion, Ms. Shield's depression stems more from the fact that she is a spoiled princess who has been handed everything she's ever wanted on a silver platter. She describes the days in the hospital after her daughter's birth as "humiliating" and that she was "exhausted." Welcome to Motherhood! She's upset she had a c-section (well, I've had vaginal AND c-section and c-section is WAY better). She should just count her blessings that she didn't crap on the table while pushing out a baby. I actually had to put the book down because I was so disgusted that Brooke felt the need to describe what every other mother in the world has been through, like it's new and exciting and terrible. It's all of those and none of those. Wake up, Brooke. It's the "Real World." Perhaps being "ordinary" was just a slap in the face that she didn't see coming.Oh God. Maybe Tom Cruise was right!
What do You think about Down Came The Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression (2006)?
My overall thoughts on Brooke Shields prior to this book were pretty neutral... in fact I basically had no thoughts on her. I listened to this book, which was read by her. I found it quite moving. Not earth-shattering, but very real. Despite her fame she sounds more like a friend or the mom down the block in this book. She talks about everyday activities, everyday concerns and of course everyday trial, tribulations and stresses. I love how she talks so much about denial and so much about believing if she wanted to be happy or wanted to be better then it would be so... and how it wasn't so and isn't that simple. She says what she felt, she shares her story and she shares how there is hope and happiness and no shame in needing and asking for help.I have not suffered post-partum depression, but very well might. Regardless, I am pleased I read this and hope I can pass it along to someone who maybe could use it.
—Kelley
This book was one of the worst I've read in quite a while. I read it because I was interested in learning more about postpartum depression, not necessarily because it was Brooke Shields, who I've never been particularly interested in. The writing in this book was horrid. I seriously think I could write a better book right now. The unfortunate thing about this book is that I really do think she has an important story to share, but the tone of the writing was so irritatingly whiny and dramatic, she lost any empathy she managed to evoke in me almost as soon as it appeared. I think that if someone were not convinced of the validity of postpartum depression, this book might actually help to convince them that it doesn't exist. She comes across as a privileged, self-obsessed, wimpy diva who has never had to do anything on her own, and who struggled with the typical challenges any new mother faces, while at the same time having many advantages over the typical mother (ie., money, time off work, family support, hired help). I really don't think that's probably how she is, based on some interviews I've seen her do, but she did such an awful job telling her story, I think that's how it would come across to anyone unfamiliar with her. I would never recommend this book to someone, and was shocked to find out that it is recommended often by professionals to women suffering from postpartum depression. I can't see how the average mother could relate to really any of her struggles. Too bad she didn't hire a ghost writer.
—Carrie
This has got to be one of the most rawly honest books I have ever read. I applaud Brooke Shields for having the courage to bare her soul in order to tell her story and help others. Having struggled with PPD myself, I had to put the book down a few times because it felt as though she had written things from my thoughts. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever struggled with PPD or who ever plans to have a child. Even if you don't believe you are at risk, it can still hit you. Even if you've never experienced it, read this book to help you understand those around you who may have. This is an excellent, excellent book.
—Amber
