Forever Lily: An Unexpected Mother's Journey to Adoption in China
Author:
Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, History, Parenting & Relationships
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, History, Parenting & Relationships
Book Type: Paperback
Helpful Score: 12
Forever Lily...well this was a different one. A woman accompanied a friend, and "friend" is worded loosely, so right there begins the strangeness of this whole experience, to China to pick up a baby. Now, think about this: a couple is adopting a child from China and the "mother" brings along a friend? Where is her husband?? And these two women were more acquaintances than friends.
Of course, the author ends up with this baby, and therein lies the story. From the plane ride over, the adopting woman has doubts that actually seem to turn into repugnance when she sees the little girl. She's small, younger than promised, and is not pretty. Of course, as she rejects the baby, the author and the infant are bonding. So there is the story...
But, interspersed with the tale of the adoption, are dreams of a past life in Imperial China. So, if you are open to the reincarnation theme, you will see and enjoy how the workings of the Universe came together to fit all the scattered pieces together to bring this child and woman together again after so many eons. If you don't like this stuff, you probably won't like the book.
It reminded me a tad of Expecting Adam, with that past life connection and odd dreams. And in the beginning, I almost quit the book because of the dreams. NO ONE dreams in such pat, linear storylines. I felt they were no more than made up passages to move the book along. But she explains, they were fragments that she wrote down, pieced together, to make a sensible story. She realized that fragmented snippets would have turned off a reader far more than the completed scenes she wrote. Once I realized the truth in that myself early on, I really enjoyed the book.
Besides the adoption story, there is plenty of China, itself, to flavor the story. The visit to the orphanage is an sad eye-opener. I recommend this little book, for sure.
Of course, the author ends up with this baby, and therein lies the story. From the plane ride over, the adopting woman has doubts that actually seem to turn into repugnance when she sees the little girl. She's small, younger than promised, and is not pretty. Of course, as she rejects the baby, the author and the infant are bonding. So there is the story...
But, interspersed with the tale of the adoption, are dreams of a past life in Imperial China. So, if you are open to the reincarnation theme, you will see and enjoy how the workings of the Universe came together to fit all the scattered pieces together to bring this child and woman together again after so many eons. If you don't like this stuff, you probably won't like the book.
It reminded me a tad of Expecting Adam, with that past life connection and odd dreams. And in the beginning, I almost quit the book because of the dreams. NO ONE dreams in such pat, linear storylines. I felt they were no more than made up passages to move the book along. But she explains, they were fragments that she wrote down, pieced together, to make a sensible story. She realized that fragmented snippets would have turned off a reader far more than the completed scenes she wrote. Once I realized the truth in that myself early on, I really enjoyed the book.
Besides the adoption story, there is plenty of China, itself, to flavor the story. The visit to the orphanage is an sad eye-opener. I recommend this little book, for sure.
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