The Red Threadby Ann Hood
ISBN#978-0-393-07020-0
I spent nearly ninenty percent of this book not really liking it. Just reading because it was so easy to read. One page led to another. I like books like that so I guess I liked it. I didn't necessarily like some of the stories intertwined throughout the book. This book is not one story, it is many and some of the stories repelled me rather than drew me it.
"Ordinary" families adopting little girls from China. Each of their stories, from their history to their fears and joys of adopting. Everyone who knows me knows my dream in life is to adopt. I feel like I am an "ordinary" family and the struggles I'd face were no where near some of the ones portrayed in this book such as adultery, loveless marriages, uninterested husbands, cold business like women. Not my cup of tea. I suppose the author could have choose the most extreme families to make the statement that everyone who is without a child and who wants one is able to have one. However some of the unsavory characters made me feel sorry for the children who were paired with them!
With that being said. I hit a point in the story where I just cried. It became tenderhearted and lovely.
"The sun shimmered outside the plane, sending bright light through the windows. In that light Maya saw it, that red thread, tangled and curved, connecting each baby to their mother. She blinked. The red thread glimmered then slowly disappeared. No matter how notted or entangled it became, at the end of it was the child you were meant to have." pg.302
So based on the Chinese tradition of the red thread, regardless of what I thought of the families depicted in this book, the premise was that it is meant to be that these children went to these families. I should add also entwined into the myriad of stories were the stories of the actual birth mother's which actually delighted and enthralled me. I also loved the story of the main character whose weary struggle with life was endearing.
I guess I would suggest this book. As much as I disliked it, I liked it. It is a very easy read, and surprisingly touching at times.
"Ordinary" families adopting little girls from China. Each of their stories, from their history to their fears and joys of adopting. Everyone who knows me knows my dream in life is to adopt. I feel like I am an "ordinary" family and the struggles I'd face were no where near some of the ones portrayed in this book such as adultery, loveless marriages, uninterested husbands, cold business like women. Not my cup of tea. I suppose the author could have choose the most extreme families to make the statement that everyone who is without a child and who wants one is able to have one. However some of the unsavory characters made me feel sorry for the children who were paired with them!
With that being said. I hit a point in the story where I just cried. It became tenderhearted and lovely.
"The sun shimmered outside the plane, sending bright light through the windows. In that light Maya saw it, that red thread, tangled and curved, connecting each baby to their mother. She blinked. The red thread glimmered then slowly disappeared. No matter how notted or entangled it became, at the end of it was the child you were meant to have." pg.302
So based on the Chinese tradition of the red thread, regardless of what I thought of the families depicted in this book, the premise was that it is meant to be that these children went to these families. I should add also entwined into the myriad of stories were the stories of the actual birth mother's which actually delighted and enthralled me. I also loved the story of the main character whose weary struggle with life was endearing.
I guess I would suggest this book. As much as I disliked it, I liked it. It is a very easy read, and surprisingly touching at times.
