Helpful Score: 8
I was disappointed in the ending of the book. It moved along very fast in the beginning as the author delved into her past and described her biological parents. Towards the end one entire chapter is devoted to deposition type questions without answers. I'm not sure the story is completed yet in my mind.
Helpful Score: 7
I loved the writing style and the story was engaging. The ending does feel open and unfinished, but I found that to be more true and more authentic than most autobiographies. Most of the memoir-type books try to tie everything into a nice fluffy bow at the end, but real life isn't like that, so I found the ending to this book to be fitting.
Helpful Score: 7
In my opinion, the book was a little disappointing, because I was probably expecting something different. It would appear that real life never sounds quite as exciting as fiction (even if fiction is usually based on real life!). However, this book meandered quite too much for my taste, and I tired of the self-pity, as, after all, the author did grow up in a loving family environment.
Helpful Score: 5
As an adult adoptee this book really hit home. Though my circumstances were different from the author's, I understood her feelings. She tells her story in a compelling, easy to read, hard to put down way. I read the whole thing on the plane.
This is an important book for adult adoptees.
This is an important book for adult adoptees.
Helpful Score: 3
I agree with the other reviews......I enjoyed most of this book. It was interesting to read about the author getting to know her birth parents and circumstances of her conception. However, when the athor decides to research her family tree things get a little drawn out and boring. I still enjoyed the book and it was a quick, little read.
Helpful Score: 2
I really love A. M. Homes, particularly the spectacularly twisted "The End of Alice." So I was a little disappointed in this memoir in which she relates the discovery of her biological parents (she was an adopted child)and her subsequent delving into her roots, both biological and adoptive. I found it to be interesting though somewhat lackluster. I expected more from her.
I read a lot of adoption reunion stories. This one was interesting as it was told by an adult adoptee who did not initiate a search. She wasn't really looking for a relationship with her birth parents. So it was different from previous books I'd read on the topic. It was a good read.
I enjoyed the part about her getting to know her birth parents. The geneology part got long, though. All in all, though I enjoyed it.
This was the first book I've read by A.M. Homes. I was expecting a little more but I can't say this isn't a good book. I read this months ago so details aren't coming to mind very easily but I do remember the basic story.
I remember vividly how honest the story seemed. I think a lot of the time, especially with something so personal as this, an author glides over certain aspects, whether to save themself the hurt or whatever else. Homes didn't seem to do this as far as I could tell.
I suggest this to someone wanting to read and learn more about what it's like for a child who was adopted to have their birth mother come into their life all of a sudden. I think the key thing here, with Homes' story, is that she was fine without her and didn't really want her in her life.
I remember vividly how honest the story seemed. I think a lot of the time, especially with something so personal as this, an author glides over certain aspects, whether to save themself the hurt or whatever else. Homes didn't seem to do this as far as I could tell.
I suggest this to someone wanting to read and learn more about what it's like for a child who was adopted to have their birth mother come into their life all of a sudden. I think the key thing here, with Homes' story, is that she was fine without her and didn't really want her in her life.
This was a very compelling read although I found the ending disappointing. A.M. Homes was adopted and in her late 20's was contacted by her birth mother. She later made contact with her very selfish birth father. The story is of self-discovery, a little be of self-obsession and, finally, self-acceptance. A very good read.
This book surprised me. I knew it was about adoption, but I was also hoping it was about her writing life. Since I am unfamiliar with adoption I didn't expect this book to interest me as much. But, to my surprise, the journey of finding her biological parents was totally strange, heartfelt and intriguing.
This book wasn't very well written. I usually really enjoy memoirs but I'd have to put this near the bottom of the list. I think if it had been written better it would have been really good because the story was interesting, her birth mother is really a mess. She had a sad life. I think the author probably wondered why she ever tried to find her in the first place. Her birth father is pretty much a jerk. Just goes to show that some people can be very thankful that they got their adoptive parents instead of their birth parents.
I just couldn't get into this book and I tried several times. The author seemed a bit bitter and angry about her past...or at least that was my take on it. I quit trying to read when I got to the genealogy.
An interesting, thought provoking book. A detailed review of what it's like to be adopted, to find your birth parents, and deal with their eccentricities.
Beautifully told tale of love, redemption and hope.
Hearing the story from the viewpoint of the adoptee as an adult was very interesting. I felt like many people don't realize how it feels to be adopted unless they are in that position. But as another reviewer said, I tired of the self-pity. I felt like the book was one big complaint about her life. I also felt like the book got a little boring at times. I didn't get to the end because I got tired of hearing her complain.
