Welcome to Litsy!

Though I‘ve read Shapiro‘s fiction, this is my 1st foray into her memoirs, & I absolutely loved listening to her narrate her story. I found myself totally absorbed, listening at every opportunity. This transfixing tale opens when, at 54, after rather thoughtlessly submitting an ancestry DNA sample, she learns that her beloved father was not her biological father. With both of her parents gone, & only a few elderly relatives available to speak.

#WeeklyForecast

Just a few chapters in on the tagged. A BFF asked me to read Awake so we can discuss. I am going in with low expectations. Switching to print on the Giuffre and maybe alternate with the Austen when a break is necessary.

One day the author took a DNA test and found out that her father was not her biological father. Her parents never told her and now they were no longer living. She set out to find her biological father and understand her history better. This was her story about that journey. I can‘t imagine what that must have been like for her.

Couldn‘t have asked for a better book to finish out the year. I have a big interest in genealogy and dna and have wanted to read this for awhile. A nearby library is having a book discussion on it in January. Invited my mom to join me. We both loved the book. I‘ll definitely be reading more Shapiro.

#alphabetgame #letteri

Great memoir about a surprising paternity result from ancestry.com. Dani's quest to understand where she came from is to be commended!

Shapiro was in her 50s when she learned that her father was not her biological father. She wrote this remarkable memoir about that experience. She is now a passionate advocate for bringing truth to light, believing that it has “the power to liberate, heal, and even uplift us.” Also recommended her podcast, Family Secrets.

#Lies!! #BookMoods
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

When Dani Shapiro was 54, she discovered on ancestry.com that the man she thought was her father was not. Through research she finds out who her true biological father is and contacts him. The events that follow are truly heart wrenching and complex. It causes readers to wonder what they would do in similar situation. It also induces us to think about truth and the ethics involved in dealing with infertility. Very well written and honest.

I‘d never given much thought to what it would be like for a person in midlife to discover their parentage was not what they‘d believed it to be. This memoir is a fascinating account of Shapiro‘s journey to reconcile her personal history with her discovered DNA. She explores both the personal side of the story as well as medical ethics, changing practices in fertility medicine, and the impact and responsibility carried by our genetics. Recommended!

Dani Shapiro was shattered when she discovered unexplainable results on her dna kit and sent her life into a unsettling time as she discovers her “origin” story. This memoir delves into family, religion, medical ethics and what makes us belong. Fascinating account and well written!

Completely blown away by how much I loved this memoir about Shapiro‘s unexpected discovery that her dad was not her biological father. It‘s a complex story of discovery and what makes a family, and I found myself crying a little bit more than once. So good, and I loved the author‘s narration on audio.

Another excellent read thanks to #NewYearsWhoDis!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

This book follows the author‘s journey to discover her true paternity, and the emotions she experiences along the way. I did not ever feel like I was invested in her story and did not find it extremely compelling, and was only slightly interested in the outcome.

Not the biggest page turner I‘ve ever read, but I did become invested in her story.

This was my first read of hers and I almost couldn‘t stop listening to the audiobook once I started. I really wanted to know how things would turn out. She writes so fairly and with self-awareness about events that happened so recently- I found that impressive. It‘s a moving story and made me want to read more of her work.

#ManicMonday #LetterI
📚 (tagged book) another fabulous memoir
✒️Eowyn Ivey
📺I Dream of Jeannie
🎤 Imagine Dragons
🎼Impossible Shontelle

https://youtu.be/NWdrO4BoCu8

I kind of know this story from the abbreviated version on her podcast. I love her voice however, and the interesting stories from “Family Secrets” enough to listen to the whole book. What else to do while shredding old tax documents? I want the details!!

By a DNA test Dani Shapiro finds out that her orthodox Jewish father was not her real father - she was conceived by a sperm donor. This is an honest and intimate report of how she deals with this new reality and how she reflects on her past and her upbringing with this new knowledge.

@veritysalter Thanks for sending me this one 😘❤️. @Cathythoughts This one certainly fits the #parentandchildmemoir prompt for #Booked2020!

Beautiful painful poem

I have had this book on hold through Overdrive forever it seems, and I was so excited when I finally received it. 💚

Books like this one are why I love memoirs so much! Dani Shapiro brings us into her life and shares the heartbreak and pain, but also the love and acceptance with us.

I can definitely see why this book is so popular. It was emotional, powerful, and unforgettable.

A fascinating, beautiful, heartfelt tale that asks you to think about family, love, identity, self, lies, and truth. Thank you to @TheBookHippie and @Cinfhen for the #YearofReadingLitsy recommendation!

#Booked2020 Parent/Child Memoir
@Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft

#ReadwithMrBook Librarian Recommendation @MrBook

finished up this audiobook and walked 2 miles before lunch 👟🎧📖

I just came across this Book Turtle in my library book 😂😂🐢

I don't know which of my co-workers left this for me to find, but it gave me a nice morning smile!

#weeklyforecast I finally managed to start tagged book this past week and will hopefully finish today. The Little Sister is for #booked2020 and The Story Sisters is for #doublespin.

Up next for #YearofReadingLitsy - this one recommended by @TheBookHippie and @Cinfhen so you know it's going to be good!

Interesting listen about a woman who found out she was conceived via sperm donor.

What makes a person themselves? Nature or nurture? In this book, a devout Orthodox Jew finds out she's not genetically related to her father and goes on a quest to find her "real" family. I had a hard time with this, as I always do with discussing biological parents. Shapiro does have a lot of interesting points of contention in today's technological age, DNA testing being readily available in the advent of early artificial insemination practices.

#unpopularopinion The author takes a paternity test and finds out her father is not her bio dad. I understand that a memoir is self-reflective. This book, however, was self-indulgent and melodramatic. She wanted what she wanted regardless of how it impacted others. She also completely ignores the very privileged lifestyle in which she was raised and its impact on this situation. Struggled to finish. One positive: Info on Judaism was interesting.

"When I was a girl I would sneak down the hall late at night once my parents were asleep."
#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Just finished this (thanks for pointing me to this one @dariazeoli !) I found this fascinating and as an adoptee I very much related to some of her feelings. This is a memoir about finding out through a DNA test that the author‘s father is not her birth father. Many things I completely empathized with, and some things I found far-fetched, but only because of my personal reactions to similar events. (I‘m probably just more screwed up🙃) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘ve been gravitating towards nonfiction novels and graphic novels lately. This one was definitely a #blameitonLitsy read and I read through it in 24 hours! I had never heard of this memoirist before, although now I feel like I know her really well. She candidly and eloquently expresses her journey through discovering the truth about her parentage and going from certainty (wrong but she was always certain of it) to uncertainty to acceptance.

‪The #NonfictionNerds Goodreads group that @laurenslibrary started last month is reading the tagged book in February! All are welcome, and the discussion thread is open:

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1061034-nonfiction-nerds‬

Voting for March‘s book starts tonight.

(The moderator post was open, so I took it to keep the group going. I love nonfiction and am excited to read more of it! I‘m happy to give the spot up if Lauren asks.)

Imagine sending off a DNA sample on a lark and finding out your dad is not your biological father. This is what happened to Dani Shapiro. She was the product of donor conception and never knew a thing.

I spent much of my time listening to this audiobook saying, "Can you imagine??"

An enjoyable and thought provoking read. I highly recommend it.

A thought provoking, emotional memoir. Shapiro found out through a DNA test that her father was not her biological father, but instead she was conceived by a sperm donor. I found this fascinating! Shapiro allows the reader to feel her roller coaster of emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them. The ramifications and possibilities of her situation are enormous and traumatic and I enjoyed the way she presents them. #newyearwhodis book 2
5🌟

I‘ve been suffering from a book hangover after Daisy Jones & The Six. I was a little worried that anything I picked up after was going to feel insubstantial or difficult. This one has pleasantly surprised me! It‘s interesting and thoughtful. I can relate to her connection with the past she thought was hers and understand how she feels shattered after finding out it may not be. Up to page 72 so far and loving it! ❤️
#newyearwhodis Book 2

The audiobook was a great listening experience

Next up. DNA a and paternity. Similar to a book my cousin‘s wife wrote. Exposed by DNA. By Katie Hopkins. This is likely happening often now.

Day 8 of #adventrecommends ...

A favorite read of 2019

The first of Shaprio's books i've read, & i'll definitely be back for more. She tells the story of accidentally discovering her genetic identity with warmth & passion. The first half is a real page turner as the mystery unfolds & she connects with the story of her creation. The pace then shifts as she broadens to contemplate wider issues of religion, family and genetics. I found it heart breaking at times, sad at times and very thought provoking.

On the train to Bath - spending the day browsing the Christmas market. Got at least 90 minutes to start a new book!

A journalist‘s memoir about finding out via DNA testing that her father was not her father because of the use of a sperm donor. This looks at infertility medical advances through the lens of the children born as a result. Interesting and heartbreaking.

4⭐
I read this and was fascinated by Danis stunning discovery that changed the whole way she viewed her existence. Testing DNA has consequences far reaching and unexpected results. The pluses and minuses can't be understated. A compelling book

Will written, difficult, beautiful, hopeful.

I thought I‘d give this book a try because it sounded interesting—a woman learns her father is not her biological father after an Ancestry DNA test. But frankly it‘s reading like overwrought melodrama to me. And I just don‘t relate, but I‘ve always felt how one feels is more important to family than biology. #unpopularopinion

A quick read, it nevertheless gave me lots to think about. How do you balance the 1960s idea of what‘s right with the current idea? A promise of anonymity, with easy access to DNA testing? The rights of the child v. the rights of the parents? And what effect do secrets have on families and individuals?

This was an incredibly honest and emotional memoir, definitely the best I‘ve read so far this year. Her writing evokes the raw, guttural emotions that comes from a shocking DNA discovery. She describes the pain, trauma and processing of all the conflicting feelings perfectly; I felt much the same way on my personal journey discovering biological family. Thought-provoking and a must read!

#NFNov
#nonfiction2019 : With History

#bookandlunch 🥪 🥑 📖

Hoping to finish this one today.

#NFNov #TIL : I love that Dani Shapiro takes us through the step by step of her discoveries. Kind of morbid, but obituaries are a gold mine for genealogists and adoptees searching for family.

This is the obituary that filled in the missing 🧩 that led me to the cousin that would help me identify my birth father: https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/obituaries/clara-dickson-wagner/article_c919e68b...

Trying to distract myself from election results with a new book. Thanks to @4thhouseontheleft for reminding me that this was in my shelf waiting to be read.