---
product_id: 1363307
title: "When I First Held You: 22 Critically Acclaimed Writers Talk About the Triumphs, Challenges, and Transformative Experience of Fatherhood Paperback – May 6, 2014"
brand: "brian gresko"
price: "₪126"
currency: ILS
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.co.il/products/1363307-when-i-first-held-you-22-critically-acclaimed-writers-talk
store_origin: IL
region: Israel
---

# When I First Held You: 22 Critically Acclaimed Writers Talk About the Triumphs, Challenges, and Transformative Experience of Fatherhood Paperback – May 6, 2014

**Brand:** brian gresko
**Price:** ₪126
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** When I First Held You: 22 Critically Acclaimed Writers Talk About the Triumphs, Challenges, and Transformative Experience of Fatherhood Paperback – May 6, 2014 by brian gresko
- **How much does it cost?** ₪126 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.il](https://www.desertcart.co.il/products/1363307-when-i-first-held-you-22-critically-acclaimed-writers-talk)

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## Description

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    A rare chance to hear from a diverse group of literary dads
  

*by C***6 on Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2014*

It's interesting -- family routines have changed so much in the last few decades, but dads' voices continue to remain notably absent from the pantheon of contemporary parenting narratives. As the mom of a young child, I've often turned to nonfiction memoirs for reassurance, advice, and amusement. There's Ayelet Waldman's Bad Mother, Peggy Orenstein's Waiting for Daisy, Anne Lamott's Operating Instructions, and on and on. But rarely have I had the chance to dive into anything about the experience of fatherhood (Elisha Cooper's book Crawling is the only exception I can think of at the moment.)So I was delighted to find When I First Held You, with its rich portraits of fatherhood contributed by literary dads of every stripe. There's Bob Smith's warm, funny tale of being a queer, disabled father/"deadbeat donor" of two (he's "Bob" to them, not Dad), and a heartbreaking piece from Steve Edwards about the vast distance between prenatal fantasy and postnatal reality after his child's undiagnosed illness pushes him and his wife to the brink.There are dads that hate to play, dads that wish their daughters would just stop talking so much, dads who have to construct fatherhood on their own terms in the wake of their own fathers' failures. There is guilt, there is worry (about safety, money, drinking too much, controlling rage), there is mourning for lost parents and grandparents and marriages and youth. But to me, this book is ultimately about joy and love, of course -- about the way that your heart opens up when your child is born and you realize, as Stephen O'Connor so aptly puts it, that you are no longer only yourself. A great read for fathers and mothers alike.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    A gift from 22 talented writers
  

*by R***T on Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2014*

When I First Held You is a refreshing, honest look at modern fatherhood as seen through the eyes of some of the best young(ish) male writers of the era.  This collection of essays is not, as inferred by title, a hodgepodge collection of Gen X and Gen Y narcissism about the never ending parade of dirty diapers and hours of lost sleep and soul-draining demands from the wet-set and how all is forgiven by the chance re-discovery of the birthing video.  While there is a touch of that type of narrative, as there must be, When I First Held You is an open and honest conversation about the challenges and experiences of modern fatherhood told from the perspective of fathers who were first sons.  This honesty is at its peak when contributor Bruce Machart openly admits, on behalf of so many of us, that we just don't like to play.  Especially with kids. Even our own.  Yet we try to find the strength and energy and motivation to play with our kids, even if it seems as though it will surely be our undoing.  Life and death accidents, chronic illnesses, internal struggle and external conflicts; the palette of fatherhood is found in these essays, which in turn is shared openly and mostly selflessly.  This book is a great read for any member of the family.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Excellent!
  

*by J***I on Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2014*

This is a terrific read for fathers, sons, and anyone interested in looking back at or looking ahead to having children. The diverse mix of super-established authors builds a multi-faceted view of parenthood, its challenges and joys, and the essays are by turns surprising, tense, and thought-provoking, but they always remain engrossing. Particular highlights for me include the intro, Justin Cronin’s struggle after a terrifying near-miss car accident, Benjamin Percy’s bracing essay about his own mortality, and Rick Moody’s moving look at his failings as a father. But other readers no doubt will have their own favorites, because this is one of those unique anthologies that’s equally weighted in quality across all its terrific parts.

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*Product available on Desertcart Israel*
*Store origin: IL*
*Last updated: 2026-03-02*