Multiple Bles8ings: Surviving to Thriving with Twins and Sextuplets
By Kate Gosselin

When the book came out I noticed that the author is Beth Carson (along with Kate Gosselin). On the TV show “Jon and Kate Plus 8″, it has been shown that Beth Carson is a friend of Kate’s, so I assumed the book would lack an experienced writing style. I was wrong! This book is VERY well written with an excellent flow and time-line of events.

The story is told by Kate with details that go past what the TV show documents. One way to explain it is that the TV series shows the action while the book provides insight into the emotional roller coaster and thoughts experienced by the parents, immediate family and some volunteers. Kate does a good job of explaining the mental and physical stress of raising six infants, along with a set of twin toddlers. Kate didn’t paint herself as a saint and openly talks about the times she was wrong and as she stated “not winning any friends”. As a mom myself of multiples I thought the book gave an accurate portrayal of the stress of bed rest, carrying multiples, and the mental exhaustion that takes it’s ugly toll on relationships.

The book discusses the inital fertily treatment (an IUI), Kate’s hospital stay while on bedrest, their early days in a condo by the hospital and their first house (not the house seen on TV). Each chapter of the book has a personal photo from the Gosselin family which are fairly generic and similar to what has been seen on the TV series. But unlike the TV series the book goes into detail about the parents of Jon and Kate and other immediate family members. Those family members are mentioned lovingly quiet often which Fans of the show may find interesting.

The book does have many religious references, but are not stated in a preachy way. They seem to be made only to point out the reasoning behind decisions Jon and Kate made, and to follow the title/theme of the book Multiple “Blessings”.

I have noticed many negative reviews and it seems they are based on a personal disagreement with the Gosselin’s lifestyle. Of course everyone is entitled to disagree with the Gosselin’s — I don’t always agree with what I see on TV myself. BUT unfortunately it seems the majority of negative reviews have nothing to do with the contents of the book and more to do with the flood of recent tabloid press the family has received. The book doesn’t seem to be written to make themselves look good – but written more in a diary style. Whether you are a fan or a critic, I think you will agree that the book is well written. Multiple Blessings is a fairly quick read that is well worth it for anyone who is curious about this family or for someone who has struggled with raising multiples. Enjoy!

Buy: Multiple Bles8ings: Surviving to Thriving with Twins and Sextuplets