Search This Blog








2023 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama (1)
- Alaska
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas
- California (2)
- Colorado (1)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia (1)
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana (1)
- Maine (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (2)
- North Carolina (1)
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina (1)
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia
- Washington (1)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.*
International:
- Australia (1)
- Ireland (1)
- Scotland (1)
- South Korea (1)





2023 Build Your Library Reading Challenge







Thursday, April 05, 2012
Family: Isn't It About Love?
12:52 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Anyone who knows about my beautiful, bi-racial daughter, adopted a few years ago from the bayous of Louisiana, will understand why I found Being Lara by Lola Jaye such a compelling novel. I would have read the book based on the cover alone (when my little girl saw the model on the front, she exclaimed, "It's me, Mommy!"), but the plot line also intrigued me. With themes of transracial adoption, racial/cultural identity, family, and other issues I ponder every day, I knew this story would speak straight to my heart. And it did. I sympathized with Lara, in all her confusion and vulnerability, as well as with her two mothers, both of whom narrate some sections of the story. While I don't necessarily agree with how the Reids handled the whole adoption thing, I recognized all their feelings of anxiety, doubt, guilt and fear, as I've experienced them all since the day I decided to become an adoptive mother. As for the actual story, it's fast-paced, well-told, realistic (except, perhaps, for the rather tidy end) and heartwarming without being sappy. I'm not sure I buy the idea that Lara didn't notice her family was different until age 8 (after all, my 3-year-old will look at a picture of Disney princesses and identify herself as Tiana and me as Belle), but that's a small matter, really. From the lovely cover (I need the number of the hairstylist responsible for that gorgeous hair!) to the important (and very relevant to me) themes to the globetrotting storyline (just try not to be affected by Jaye's descriptions of Nigeria, a place she once lived), I liked Being Lara a whole lot. It reminded me that families aren't about "matching," they're about love.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of No Biking in the House Without A Helmet by Melissa Fay Greene and When the Black Girl Sings by Bil Wright)
Grade: B-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for language (2 F-bombs, plus milder invectives) and mild sexual innuendo/content
2 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)




Reading
All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

Listening
The War Librarian by Addison Armstrong



Followin' with Bloglovin'



-
The Drift by C.J. Tudor2 hours ago
-
-
Song of the Week #1486 hours ago
-
Exit by Belinda Bauer9 hours ago
-
-
Augusta Hawke by G. M. Malliet13 hours ago
-
-
Petrowskaja, Katja "Maybe Esther"17 hours ago
-
-
The Engagement Plot18 hours ago
-
-
-
Can’t Wait Wednesday!19 hours ago
-
Book Review: Maame by Jessica George20 hours ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
No Life For a Lady by Hannah Dolby1 day ago
-
Ten Oldest Books On My TBR2 days ago
-
-
-
30 in 2023Fun Guide2 days ago
-
-
Graphic Novel Two-fer3 days ago
-
My January 2023 Round-up3 days ago
-
-
Sunday News #463 days ago
-
Sunday Salon: February 5, 20234 days ago
-
A couple of library books4 days ago
-
Books I Read in January 20236 days ago
-
-
-
Top Ten Books of 20224 weeks ago
-
Books Read in 20234 weeks ago
-
-
-
Nonfiction November 2022: New to My TBR2 months ago
-
Thinking Out Loud: Our Wives Under the Sea3 months ago
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?3 months ago
-
-
HEARTS OF BRIARWALL by Krista Jensen6 months ago
-
-
-
-
-

Grab my Button!



Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
Sounds like a wonderful read! Thanks for being on the tour.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who is interested in adoption, I should totally get this book. Too many books I need to read!
ReplyDelete