She also talks about wanting to give her first daughter a sister, almost as a gift, rather than expressing a strong desire to parent another child. Let's just say, she and I would disagree on all these points and maybe a few more. I also found many of her observations and remarks, about people's appearances, the conditions of their homes, etc. snarky and superior in tone.
But what she does in this memoir so compellingly is just lay it all out there. She doesn't try to win the reader's heart with her goodness. She's mean, unattractive, and petulant many times during this grueling process. She also, bravely to my mind, gives voice to many of the unspoken, barely whispered doubts and misgivingss adoptive parents have as they enter the process on one side and come out the other. Two Little Girls will challenge and intrigue you every step of the way.
I may not have liked Ms Reid during the time I spent with her memoir, but I admire her courage greatly. It's not many of us who would lay our hearts bare and unappealing, allowing others into our deepest, most personal thoughts. Although written primarily for adoptive parents, I don't think you have to be one, or even a parent at all for that matter, to find this memoir a fine and deeply moving read.
Article comments
1 - Natalie Bennett
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States. Nice work!
2 - Roberta Rosenberg
Thank you, Natalie!