Unraveling the Invisible Bonds: A Riveting Dive into ‘Held Together’ by Rebecca N. Thompson
Organized into seven sections, each beginning with parts of Thompson’s story and followed by that of other women. Choosing this braided structure instead of presenting her story as a standalone essay in a collection is a powerful choice because it allows the book to become a chorus of women’s voices, emphasizing the healing and knowledge women can gain from one another by sharing their stories and the connection that forms from talking about personal experiences.
These essays manage to look both inward and outward. All the women find renewed personal insight and connection with other women, and some universal themes emerge among the stories. Many women mention how hard it can be to open up about a complex, emotional time, especially when the instinct is to keep quiet to avoid burdening others or thinking they won’t understand. Thompson speaks of early pregnancy losses: