This month Mrs. Twist Reads This Bookclub is reading Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity and Love by Dani Shapiro.
“What makes us who we are? What combination of memory, history, biology, experience, and that ineffable thing called the soul defines us?
In the spring of 2016, through a genealogy website to which she had whimsically submitted her DNA for analysis, Dani Shapiro received the stunning news that her father was not her biological father. She woke up one morning and her entire history–the life she had lived–crumbled beneath her.
Inheritance is a book about secrets–secrets within families, kept out of shame or self-protectiveness; secrets we keep from one another in the name of love. It is the story of a woman’s urgent quest to unlock the story of her own identity, a story that has been scrupulously hidden from her for more than fifty years, years she had spent writing brilliantly, and compulsively, on themes of identity and family history. It is a book about the extraordinary moment we live in–a moment in which science and technology have outpaced not only medical ethics but also the capacities of the human heart to contend with the consequences of what we discover.”
I discovered Ms. Shapiro and her book from her Podcast “Family Secrets” where in each episode guests share long-hidden secrets from their families’ past. You can also check out her podcast interview with Oprah Winfrey here on Super Soul Sunday.
If you are local to Fort Worth, feel free to join us for discussion and snacks this Thursday, April 25 at 7 p.m. Even if you aren’t local to my area, you can join our bookclub, membership is free, through Bookmovement. By signing up you will receive notifications on our upcoming meetings and the books we will be reading. Plus, you can create your personal queue of books you want to read outside of our group and find out new releases and trends in all genres of books.
No matter where you live, we’d love to have you join our community of women spending more time reading and less time using technology. Join our movement!
Hospitality is in my DNA. I founded Home with a Twist, a daughter’s twist on her mother’s traditions, in memory of my mother to celebrate her life and the gifts she shared with me. Mother loved to celebrate life’s occasions – big and small.
Joining this delightful bookclub has been the greatest blessing to me. I had slowed down in reading for pleasure. I can cheerfully report that the list of books I’ve read in the last 18 months in the bookclub is about as long as my arm. I love reading books that I haven’t chosen. Melissa does a superior job of finding the books. Its taken me out of my comfort zone a bit in selecting books. Love the fellowship of other readers and always have the very best time in Melissa’s inviting home. Love it, love it, love it. Hugs to you, dear Melissa, for keeping us all reading.
Laurie, thank you so much. That is sweetest message to hear. I love you and my wonderful tribe of readers. Blessings it has been.