The First Look

Reviews / Votes

"Inspiring messages from breast cancer survivors are paired with candid photos of their post-surgery bodies." -- New York Review of Books "As breast cancer continues to be epidemic ... what women most fear is how a breast may look after surgery. Davis' black-and-white photographs, coupled with their subjects' stark personal essays, take major strides toward disarming the dread in that first postsurgery look. Some of the women photographed ... have had reconstructive surgery, some haven't, and some have lost both breasts. All of these 'invisible amputees' speak frankly about their fears and trials, joys and triumphs, sharing the most intimate physical and emotional scars in this long overdue, nonpareil book." -- Booklist "[Davis] felt that women who had faced surgery and the loss of their breast should be given a forum to express feelings about the experience and a means for others to see what they themselves saw upon their 'first look' at a postmastectomy body. The pride and determination of these women are evident in the postures and body language of each headless figure. The words vary from elegant and simplistic, erudite and crude, while the photos run the gamut as well, from perfectly reconstructed breasts to unbelievable scars and emptiness. Some of these photos are inspiring; others will make you gasp and wail... No one who sees them will remain unmoved." -- Library Journal "A condition that too often carries with it social marks beyond its physical scars, breast cancer is here spoken about with both clarity and immediacy." -- Doubletake "The honest and detailed accounts provide an overpowering sense of hope and can be appreciated by all women." -- Fit Magazine ADVANCE PRAISE "These images are a powerful reminder of the reality of breast cancer and the beauty of courageous women." -- Susan Love, M.D. "If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this is a book whose time has come. This is an honest portrayal of what is only 'talked' about and a resource women need." -- Dean S. Edell, M.D.