Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

Remember that box of promos–promotional copies of books–that I still have from my Borders days?  When we were winnowing books–or trying to–a few months ago, my hubby was disturbed that I didn’t want to get rid of any of them.  Here’s the thing, though.  I don’t want to keep them forever.  I just want to read them before we get rid of them.  To that end, I picked one of them for my fourth book this time, and I’m pleased to say that I finished Forever Lily:  An Unexpected Mother’s Journey to Adoption in China.  (And now I’m getting rid of it–one less item taking up space in my house!)

As for what I thought of the book–hmmm.  It was interesting, certainly.  And if you have more interest in reincarnation, karma, and new age/metaphysical reads than I do, it will appeal to you much more than it did to me.  I would have preferred more information about the people and places involved–or about the adoption process–to the author’s dream sequences, but they are, I acknowledge, central to her vision of the story and the book she wanted to write.  The most fascinating part of the book for me was the friend who originally intended to adopt and changed her mind; I found myself wondering how she felt about her portrayal in this book.  I certainly wouldn’t be pleased at having that part of my life or myself aired in any sort of publication.  I also have to wonder how the story would sound if she were the one telling it; a child in need should certainly take precedence over an adult, but the author didn’t appear to have much (if any) compassion for her sometime-friend.  (I suppose if her portrayal of her was scrupulously accurate, I can understand that, but the author’s descriptions of the woman’s actions get less and less balanced as the book progresses.  Which, again, may be understandable; I just can’t help wondering.)

In any case, I’d say that this book is only for you if you are looking for something new age or metaphysical; that aspect of the book was far more prominent than I expected it to be.  It’s as much (or more) of a spiritual memoir as it is a record of the author’s journey to adoption, and my own spiritual journeys are too dissimilar to hers for it to resonate deeply with me.  I wanted to know more about the literal topic of the book, but that wasn’t where the author chose to focus.  Such is life.