This is a seminal work about abortion. Interestingly, you can find people on both sides of the issue citing this work as supporting "their side." Yes, it can be a bit maudlin, and certainly a tad histrionic, but those are likely a couple of real emotions experienced by women when faced with the birth of a child that may not be entirely welcome. I've found it interesting that Italians tended to condemn this work more than those who read it in the English language translation. It's a powerful and emotional screed by a powerful and emotional writer. Within a thin 115 pages, the reader is unlikely to be bored. At the very least, this is a book worth reading for historical context on the issue of abortion and choice at a time (mid 1970's) when the anglo-european world saw a lot of legal, moral, and societal changes on this front. ( )