Helpful Score: 2
I have no connection to infertility, adoption or India--major topics in the novel--yet that didn't preclude me from loving The Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda. As the book jacket reveals, Asha is born in India and adopted by an American woman and her husband. The book follows what happens to both women after the adoption. Kavita's decision to bring Asha to the orphanage saves her daughter's life, but it is something that deeply affects Kavita her whole life. Asha grows up with devoted and loving parents, but with a mother so protective and fearful of loss that she prevents Asha from learning about her homeland/heritage.The novel works because it depicts a universal story about mothers and daughters, including sacrifice, love, gratitude and learning to let go. The parts of the novel set in Mumbai--Kavita's time in the slums and Asha's experience with her dad's extended family, especially her grandmother--were the best parts of the novel. Great pick for a book club!
Helpful Score: 1
A well told story that gives insight into the experiences of people whose lives are very different, even though they live in the same country.
An easy and enjoyable read describing an adopted child trying to find her identity in two cultures.
This was an interesting book, hard to take at times as it explores infanticide of baby girls in India and the terrible living conditions of the very poor. An Indian baby was adopted by an interracial couple. rwo physicians, one caucasian and other Indian, and the story interweaves between both mothers throughout the book. Heartbreaking at times, the story pulls you in and doesn't let go.
Excellent book. Couldnt put it down.
All of the Gowda novels are set in India and I've found their culture fascinating and love how she was able to portray many of their beliefs and life style into this novel. I find her writing to be so clean and neat with no filler paragraphs and idle chit-chat. Very moving story about adoption and life in India. I highly recommend this novel.
Very touching story!
This book is wonderful
Really enjoyed this book, thought it well written and give extra credit for this being the author's first novel. I learned a lot about the customs of India.
The story is about a woman's decision regarding a child she could not keep. But the real story is the child's awakening of how fortunate she was for having been adopted by her loving parents. She realized life would have been vastly different had her life with her biological parents remained. This realization and her decision of how to handle her knowledge made the book so real to me.
This could easily be a sequel book.
The story is about a woman's decision regarding a child she could not keep. But the real story is the child's awakening of how fortunate she was for having been adopted by her loving parents. She realized life would have been vastly different had her life with her biological parents remained. This realization and her decision of how to handle her knowledge made the book so real to me.
This could easily be a sequel book.
In this touching story of adoption and loss, this author has carefully and compassionately shown both sides of cross-cultural adoption, from the mother who gave and the one who received, and the daughter who bridged them together.
I really enjoyed this book. She did a wonderful job of capturing the emotions of all the people involved in this international adoption. This book brought me to tears a quite a few times. It was just lovely; it made me want to hold my daughter even closer!
Good read. Enjoyed learning about the Indian culture.
