"My Real Children" First Impressions *No Spoilers*

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

Come talk about your initial, general impressions!

Please save all discussion of particulars, details from the story, character choices, plot questions, etc. for the full spoiler thread.

Content warnings for those who want them: (view spoiler)[ dementia, cancer, loss of children and loved ones, miscarriages, stillbirths, emotional abuse, sexual coercion, homophobia, terrorist attack and resulting injuries, drug addiction (hide spoiler)]

User-submitted content warnings on Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/c...

(More about CWs here.)

[Sarah]

I'm so excited to be reading this again! I read it quite a while ago and really enjoyed it

[Netanella]

I just read Walton's Lifelode with another group. Her books are all so different from each other. I'm looking forward to this one.

[Cheryl L]

I'm about 40 pages in, and I'm not sure I'll make it through this one since it is just not grabbing me.

Sarah, what do you love about this book?

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

It took a few for it to grab me, but I also love Jo's writing and get sucked in by her storytelling, even when I find the initial parts only just fine. I think I was through chaptre 4 or so when I was finally like aha...that's interesting!

[Rose]

I first read this book right after it was published - so 8 or so years ago. I remember not loving it, but I don't remember why. I don't know if it's me - being older myself, having had my mother go through dementia - but I enjoyed it much more this time. I'm glad I re-read it.

I do really like Jo Walton, based on essays, interviews, etc. I've loved some of her books and not liked others, but I respect her as a writer and a thinker. I like reading her book reviews.

[Cheryl L]

I'm going to commit to read through Ch 7, and if it doesn't grab me by then, it's off with pirates and Green Bones for January.

[Gabi]

Only 2 chapters in and I already love everything about it!

[Jemppu]

So happy this got picked; fell in love with it few years ago.

[Roo]

I'm about a third of the way through and really loving it so far. Never heard of it or the author before but I like the writing style.

[Cheryl]

Some unsatisfying prior experience with author, picked this up at the library, am going to read it with only moderate expectations. Not for at least a few days yet.

[Muhammad Adib]

hard to find this book unfortunately

[Michelle]

I'm biased because I adore Jo Walton's writing... but yeah this one has a slow start that made me a touch leery. My grandparents suffered through dementia that struck me in a very personal way, and that whole first chapter about being lost in your own mind while "not wanting to impose" on your caretakers was deeply disturbing for me, so I set it down for the evening. Then picked it up again last night and had a major case of one-more-chapter-itis that kept me up until an hour past bedtime. The switching perspectives is done so deftly!

[Rose]

Michelle, I thought the author did such a great job with the dementia POV, both at the beginning and later in the book. It was really hard to read, though, I agree.

[a.g.e. montagner]

I'm curious about this novel, the concept seems interesting and I enjoy Walton's articles on tor.com: https://www.tor.com/author/jo-walton/

But I doubt I can fit this among the various other reading groups, here on Goodreads and elsewhere.

[Netanella]

I started last night as well. I'm still in the first chapter, but I'm intrigued. Dementia is so prevalent these days, it seems like we all have someone in our lives.

[Sarah]

Cheryl L wrote: "I'm about 40 pages in, and I'm not sure I'll make it through this one since it is just not grabbing me.

Sarah, what do you love about this book?"

I'm sorry, I missed this! I think what I love most about it is that they're two fully developed lives. There are happy and sad moments in each, and both are very compelling. I like the way that neither life is perfect.

[DivaDiane]

I just started this yesterday and loving it so far. It is definitely well written and u find it very interesting.

[Olga]

I have some work to do, but absolutely cannot tear myself away from the book. I need to find Readers Anonymous meetings in my area.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

haha a good book can be a real problem!

[DivaDiane]

We could meet online. Oh, ok, that might backfire.

[Oleksandr]

I've enjoyed everything I read by her and plan to join this read in a few days

[Mareike]

This has been on my tbr-list for a while and I'm glad I'm finally getting to it. I'm definitely intrigued after the first two chapters.

[HeyT]

I started this yesterday and am curious where it's going.

[Michele]

Love this book. Among my faves :)