April 15, 2013
Adoption Summer Reading List
We know it’s just barely spring, but we’re already compiling our summer reading list with the newest adoption books to hit the presses, and there are some really amazing ones we can’t wait to read. Written by smart, insightful and incredibly funny women, these are stories you will cherish long after you’ve put down the book.
The Mothers, Jennifer Gilmore. “Jennifer Gilmore’s The Mothers is a refreshingly frank portrayal of adoptive parents. Bypassing an adoption memoir of her own, she’s able to treat a fictional couple much harder, and with more honesty, than she’d show herself.” The Mothers is a fictionalized story about two adoptive parents, their struggle through the adoption journey and concerns that the birth mother may not go through with the adoption. Its honesty is pointed, direct and speaks to trials and errors inherent to the adoption process through the eyes of adoptive parents who real, faulted. Anyone involved in the adoption world will appreciate such a courageous portrayal of adoption – there is truth in its flaws, and a comfort in being able to read a story that may, in many ways, mirror your own.
Instant Mom, Nia Vardalos. Actress Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) is one of the most notable celeb adoption supporters right now, with her touching and humorous adoption memoir detailing the ten years she and her husband Ian spent trying to be parents. Her story is told the way these stories are best shared: with humor, compassion, humility and grace.
March into My Heart: A Memoir of Mothers, Daughters and Adoption, Patty Lazarus. As any mother-daughter pair know, theirs is a special bond that cannot be replicated, or often, even fully understand. We’re captivated by Patty’s honest tale of longing for a special mother-daughter connection and the four-year adoption journey that ensued as she sought to bring a child into her family. Her love and honesty are both heartbreaking and heartwarming.
If It’s Not One Thing, It’s Your Mother, Julia Sweeney. Julia Sweeney is a powerful female comedian and actress (remember “It’s Pat!” on SNL?) She has also just recently penned a brilliant collection of essays about adopting her daughter, Mulan, from China and the family life she shares with her daughter and husband. The book’s title actually comes from a saying Julia’s mother had stitched onto a pillow which Julia hated growing up…until she became a mother. Now that pillow has a proud place in her home, which drives her own daughter crazy. Elegant, funny, and dead-on honest, this is one that will make you laugh so hard while nodding your head in total understanding. A must for all families, and perfect for summer reading!
