Marianne Perry's Blog - Posts Tagged "adoption"
What Would You Do To Discover Your Birth Parents? Book Review: Daughter Of Mine
Daughter Of Mine by Laura Fabiani
The cover of Daughter of Mine captivated my attention. Pastel buildings against an azure sky perched on a rocky coastline coupled with ruins of a crumbling stone castle cast immediate allure. Since I am the mother of an adult daughter, the title of Laura Fabiani’s novel also piqued my interest. The caption in the lower right corner, “Does a box in Italy hold all the answers?” heightened my curiosity as well. I am a second generation Canadian-Italian who has researched her ancestral roots for two decades and I’ve travelled to Italy numerous times to solve family mysteries. The book blurb on the back indicated Daughter of Mine about a young woman named Tiziana Manoretti who upon discovering her born in a Naples orphanage embarks on a journey to the town of Gaeta to find her birth mother and father. For these reasons, I wanted to read this book; when I’d finished, I was pleased that I had so decided.
The story begins with a Prologue set at the Grand Villa Irlanda in Gaeta, an ancient town on the Gulf of Naples. We meet the owner, Caterina Ariosto who possesses the mysterious box. The introductory section ends with the cryptic lines, “She could only wait as she had been doing for the last two decades for this person to come to her. And that could mean waiting forever.” We are immediately drawn into the tale.
Within the introductory chapters, Tiziana is revealed a professional woman who straddles both the traditional and modern world. A mechanical engineering technologist in a Montreal engineering firm, she is the only child of Chloe, a Canadian and Steve who’d emigrated from Italy. Theirs is a tightly knit unit and though twenty-seven, she is single and living at home. Tiziana manifests confusion and angst with respect to the secret her parent’s kept and despite it contravening their wishes, holds steadfast in going to Gaeta to search for the truth.
There are forty-seven chapters in Daughter of Mine; all of which are concisely written. The plot unfolds rapidly from multi viewpoints. The suspense arch is deftly drawn, laced with episodic humour, coincidences, surprises and twists plus clever endings to ensure we are keen about what happens next.
The author establishes authenticity in various ways and I felt as if I’d visited Italy in Daughter of Mine. For example, the interjection of words such as pronto, aspetta and bambina helps create a sense of place. References to food including frittata con funghi, cornetto, spaghetti con aglio e olio and panino adds substantiation. The character names, Massimo, Flavia and Gian-Carlo are easy to remember yet effective. Saints are revered in Italian culture and a reference to Sant’Erasmo, Gaeta’s patron, was noteworthy. I particularly favoured the phrase, bella di papa; Stefano’s sweet term of endearment for his daughter, Tiziana.
Laura Fabiani’s descriptions also merit comment. The Orfanotrofio Santa Maria Della Fede, the Gaeta orphanage where Tiziana was born on March 12, 1980 is vividly drawn in Chapter 13. I site the example, “The tiles of the courtyard were a colourful mixture of mustards, terracotta, and blues, forming a mosaic of the sun at the center.” Her depiction of Gaeta in Chapter 15 is splendid as are the details of Rome in Chapter 28.
Male-female relationships are complicated and the cited quote referencing the changing dynamic between Tiziana and her long term friend, Christopher testifies to the author’s grasp of this issue and adroitness at summarizing it. “…it’s been my experience that one or the other will always tend to view the friendship as more than what it is.”
Adoption is complex and in addition to articulating Tiziana’s sentiments, Laura Fabiani explored the topic from myriad perspectives. This included: the birth and adoptive parents; the nuns of the Dominican order complicit in the adoption; the sibling and child of the birth mother; the birth father; legal authorities, Tiziana’s friends, etc. As a result, we gain insight into the intricate emotions underlying such a decision and our understanding deepens.
The following three examples (quotes partial and out of sequence) reflect the author’s mastery of the subject and, once again, talent of expression.
In Chapter 13, Tiziana says, “…I just want to know who my birth parents are….Is that wrong?” Suor Annunziata, a Dominican nun from the orphanage replies, “No. my child, it isn’t. But it doesn’t always mean, it’s the best thing to do.”
In Chapter 38, Tiziana says, “I was angry with my parents for not telling me sooner, for keeping it a secret.” Gilda responds, “It’s a universal need to know one’s roots. And it may be difficult for some parents to understand this for a reason you may be unaware of….” “The term father and other here applies to your parents whether they gave birth to you or not,” Gilda said gently.
In Chapter 44, Tiziana’s reaction to the letters, which inform her of the truth is poignantly captured in this sentence. “Words of pain and words of betrayal. Words of love and words of hope.”
Daughter Of Mine concludes with a brief Epilogue that links to the Prologue and answers any residual questions. It is evident Tiziana transformed by the experience and on the cusp of a new chapter in her revised life. Though the conclusion bittersweet, the reader is satisfied. I look forward to Laura Fabiani’s future novels.
Marianne Perry
Author of The Inheritance
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
http://www.marianneperry.ca
The cover of Daughter of Mine captivated my attention. Pastel buildings against an azure sky perched on a rocky coastline coupled with ruins of a crumbling stone castle cast immediate allure. Since I am the mother of an adult daughter, the title of Laura Fabiani’s novel also piqued my interest. The caption in the lower right corner, “Does a box in Italy hold all the answers?” heightened my curiosity as well. I am a second generation Canadian-Italian who has researched her ancestral roots for two decades and I’ve travelled to Italy numerous times to solve family mysteries. The book blurb on the back indicated Daughter of Mine about a young woman named Tiziana Manoretti who upon discovering her born in a Naples orphanage embarks on a journey to the town of Gaeta to find her birth mother and father. For these reasons, I wanted to read this book; when I’d finished, I was pleased that I had so decided.
The story begins with a Prologue set at the Grand Villa Irlanda in Gaeta, an ancient town on the Gulf of Naples. We meet the owner, Caterina Ariosto who possesses the mysterious box. The introductory section ends with the cryptic lines, “She could only wait as she had been doing for the last two decades for this person to come to her. And that could mean waiting forever.” We are immediately drawn into the tale.
Within the introductory chapters, Tiziana is revealed a professional woman who straddles both the traditional and modern world. A mechanical engineering technologist in a Montreal engineering firm, she is the only child of Chloe, a Canadian and Steve who’d emigrated from Italy. Theirs is a tightly knit unit and though twenty-seven, she is single and living at home. Tiziana manifests confusion and angst with respect to the secret her parent’s kept and despite it contravening their wishes, holds steadfast in going to Gaeta to search for the truth.
There are forty-seven chapters in Daughter of Mine; all of which are concisely written. The plot unfolds rapidly from multi viewpoints. The suspense arch is deftly drawn, laced with episodic humour, coincidences, surprises and twists plus clever endings to ensure we are keen about what happens next.
The author establishes authenticity in various ways and I felt as if I’d visited Italy in Daughter of Mine. For example, the interjection of words such as pronto, aspetta and bambina helps create a sense of place. References to food including frittata con funghi, cornetto, spaghetti con aglio e olio and panino adds substantiation. The character names, Massimo, Flavia and Gian-Carlo are easy to remember yet effective. Saints are revered in Italian culture and a reference to Sant’Erasmo, Gaeta’s patron, was noteworthy. I particularly favoured the phrase, bella di papa; Stefano’s sweet term of endearment for his daughter, Tiziana.
Laura Fabiani’s descriptions also merit comment. The Orfanotrofio Santa Maria Della Fede, the Gaeta orphanage where Tiziana was born on March 12, 1980 is vividly drawn in Chapter 13. I site the example, “The tiles of the courtyard were a colourful mixture of mustards, terracotta, and blues, forming a mosaic of the sun at the center.” Her depiction of Gaeta in Chapter 15 is splendid as are the details of Rome in Chapter 28.
Male-female relationships are complicated and the cited quote referencing the changing dynamic between Tiziana and her long term friend, Christopher testifies to the author’s grasp of this issue and adroitness at summarizing it. “…it’s been my experience that one or the other will always tend to view the friendship as more than what it is.”
Adoption is complex and in addition to articulating Tiziana’s sentiments, Laura Fabiani explored the topic from myriad perspectives. This included: the birth and adoptive parents; the nuns of the Dominican order complicit in the adoption; the sibling and child of the birth mother; the birth father; legal authorities, Tiziana’s friends, etc. As a result, we gain insight into the intricate emotions underlying such a decision and our understanding deepens.
The following three examples (quotes partial and out of sequence) reflect the author’s mastery of the subject and, once again, talent of expression.
In Chapter 13, Tiziana says, “…I just want to know who my birth parents are….Is that wrong?” Suor Annunziata, a Dominican nun from the orphanage replies, “No. my child, it isn’t. But it doesn’t always mean, it’s the best thing to do.”
In Chapter 38, Tiziana says, “I was angry with my parents for not telling me sooner, for keeping it a secret.” Gilda responds, “It’s a universal need to know one’s roots. And it may be difficult for some parents to understand this for a reason you may be unaware of….” “The term father and other here applies to your parents whether they gave birth to you or not,” Gilda said gently.
In Chapter 44, Tiziana’s reaction to the letters, which inform her of the truth is poignantly captured in this sentence. “Words of pain and words of betrayal. Words of love and words of hope.”
Daughter Of Mine concludes with a brief Epilogue that links to the Prologue and answers any residual questions. It is evident Tiziana transformed by the experience and on the cusp of a new chapter in her revised life. Though the conclusion bittersweet, the reader is satisfied. I look forward to Laura Fabiani’s future novels.
Marianne Perry
Author of The Inheritance
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
http://www.marianneperry.ca
How Many Families Do You Have?
How Many Families Do You Have?
Book Review: Lion/A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley.
Lion, previously published as A Long Way Home, is Saroo Brierley’s memoir. Saroo was born in 1981 in Ganesh Tilai, Madhya Pradesh, India. In 1986 while accompanying his older brother, Guddu on the train south to Burhanpur, the two became separated. Trapped in an empty rail car, Saroo wakes up at Howrah Station, Kolkata, later revealed approximately 1,500 kilometres east of his home. Adopted by an Australian couple, Sue and John Brierley, in 1987, he is raised in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Years later when an adult, he searches for his birth family utilizing Google Earth’s satellite images. A Facebook group also provides assistance. With only his memories to guide him and wrongly believing the name of his hometown, “Ginestlay,” it is a painstaking process.
His efforts showcase technology’s capabilities as well as Saroo’s commitment to achieve his goal. In 2012, he is reunited with his mother and siblings but learns Guddu dead. His birth and adoptive mothers eventually meet and though Saroo returns to Hobart, he maintains close ties with his Indian family.
Brierley begins his account with a Prologue set in India at the point he and his mother on the cusp of reunion. From there, thirteen chapters headed with titles intrinsic to theme chronicle his journey. An Epilogue speaks to the subject of family and how this experience has changed Saroo. A compilation of original photos and documents plus a detailed map of India provide visual aids.
The author conveys the harsh living conditions Saroo and his family endured in India to help readers envision the world from which he came. This excerpt from Chapter Two is particularly poignant.
“Hunger limits you because you are constantly thinking about getting food, keeping the food if you do get your hands on some, and not knowing when you are going to eat next. It is a vicious cycle….Hunger and poverty steal your childhood and take away your innocence and sense of security.”
There are many passages recording Saroo’s harrowing predicament with this sample from Chapter Two conveying his desperation.
“I can still feel the icy chill of panic that hit me when I realized that I was trapped….I couldn’t read any of the signs in the carriage….I called for my mother,…No one answered and the train didn’t stop….I was lost.”
Chapter Thirteen is noteworthy for its reference to modes of transportation in India. Brierley’s description of the rail system and his journey from Burhanpur to Kolkata as an adult is comprehensive and clear.
Though this is Brierley’s memoir, sayings threaded throughout address universal issues and, as such, make his tale relevant to all. This Hindu quote from Chapter Twelve sparks contemplation.
“Everything is written”: destiny takes its inevitable path.”
With regards the meaning of the title, Lion, Brierley informs us in Chapter Eleven that he was christened, Sheru Munshi Khan. Sheru is Hindi for “Lion” but he’d mispronounced it since lost and would be forever known as “Saroo.”
His birth mother, Kamla meets Sue Brierley face to face in Ganesh Talai; an incident reported in The Epilogue. Saroo’s reflection in the final pages sums his resolution of reconnecting with his birth family.
“I now have two families, not two identities. I am Saroo Brierley.”
Lion or A Long Way Home is an inspirational story of obstacles conquered, dreams realized and insights gained. A marvelous read for sure.
Marianne Perry
Author of The Inheritance
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
www.marianneperry.ca
Book Review: Lion/A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley.
Lion, previously published as A Long Way Home, is Saroo Brierley’s memoir. Saroo was born in 1981 in Ganesh Tilai, Madhya Pradesh, India. In 1986 while accompanying his older brother, Guddu on the train south to Burhanpur, the two became separated. Trapped in an empty rail car, Saroo wakes up at Howrah Station, Kolkata, later revealed approximately 1,500 kilometres east of his home. Adopted by an Australian couple, Sue and John Brierley, in 1987, he is raised in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Years later when an adult, he searches for his birth family utilizing Google Earth’s satellite images. A Facebook group also provides assistance. With only his memories to guide him and wrongly believing the name of his hometown, “Ginestlay,” it is a painstaking process.
His efforts showcase technology’s capabilities as well as Saroo’s commitment to achieve his goal. In 2012, he is reunited with his mother and siblings but learns Guddu dead. His birth and adoptive mothers eventually meet and though Saroo returns to Hobart, he maintains close ties with his Indian family.
Brierley begins his account with a Prologue set in India at the point he and his mother on the cusp of reunion. From there, thirteen chapters headed with titles intrinsic to theme chronicle his journey. An Epilogue speaks to the subject of family and how this experience has changed Saroo. A compilation of original photos and documents plus a detailed map of India provide visual aids.
The author conveys the harsh living conditions Saroo and his family endured in India to help readers envision the world from which he came. This excerpt from Chapter Two is particularly poignant.
“Hunger limits you because you are constantly thinking about getting food, keeping the food if you do get your hands on some, and not knowing when you are going to eat next. It is a vicious cycle….Hunger and poverty steal your childhood and take away your innocence and sense of security.”
There are many passages recording Saroo’s harrowing predicament with this sample from Chapter Two conveying his desperation.
“I can still feel the icy chill of panic that hit me when I realized that I was trapped….I couldn’t read any of the signs in the carriage….I called for my mother,…No one answered and the train didn’t stop….I was lost.”
Chapter Thirteen is noteworthy for its reference to modes of transportation in India. Brierley’s description of the rail system and his journey from Burhanpur to Kolkata as an adult is comprehensive and clear.
Though this is Brierley’s memoir, sayings threaded throughout address universal issues and, as such, make his tale relevant to all. This Hindu quote from Chapter Twelve sparks contemplation.
“Everything is written”: destiny takes its inevitable path.”
With regards the meaning of the title, Lion, Brierley informs us in Chapter Eleven that he was christened, Sheru Munshi Khan. Sheru is Hindi for “Lion” but he’d mispronounced it since lost and would be forever known as “Saroo.”
His birth mother, Kamla meets Sue Brierley face to face in Ganesh Talai; an incident reported in The Epilogue. Saroo’s reflection in the final pages sums his resolution of reconnecting with his birth family.
“I now have two families, not two identities. I am Saroo Brierley.”
Lion or A Long Way Home is an inspirational story of obstacles conquered, dreams realized and insights gained. A marvelous read for sure.
Marianne Perry
Author of The Inheritance
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
www.marianneperry.ca
